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DUTIES 



OF 



MASTERS TO SERVANTS: 



THREE PREMIUM ESSAYS. 



I. By the Rev. H. N. McTYEIRE. 
11. By the Rev. C. F. STURGIS. 
III. By the Rev. A. T. HOLMES. 



CHARLESTON, S. C: 

SOUTHEKN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

No. 41 Broad-street. 

1851 



£V-; 






NOTE. 



In 1849, the Baptist State Convention of Alabama offered a 
premium of $200 for the best Essay on the Duties of Christian 
Masters to their Servants ; and assigned the duty of making the 
award to a committee selected from the leading religious denomi- 
nations of the Southern and South-western States. The award, 
as suggested by the committee, was confirmed at the meeting of 
the Convention in 1850 ; and three essays are, accordingly, se- 
lected for publication. The Rev. H. N. McTyeire, of New- 
Orleans, is the autlior of the essay signed " Crescent ;" the Rev. 
C. F, Sturgis, of Greensborough, Ala., is the author of the Mel- 
ville letters ; and the Rev. A. T. Holmes, of Hayneville, Houston 
Co., Ga,, is the author of the essay signed " Ryland Fuller." 

It is proper to state that the Committee of Award, the Con- 
vention, and their Committee of Publication, have, alike, ab- 
stained from any such censorship of these essays as to make 
themselves, or any of them, responsible for the accuracy of the 
definitions or statements used by the writers respectively. The 
parties, above referred to, have deemed it sufficient that these 
essays were adjudged to be the best presented to them, and that 
they contain matter Avorthy of the profound and prayerful con- 
sideration of the owners of slaves. The authors of the essays, 
severally, are entitled to all the honor, and will sustain all the 
responsibility, which may belong to them. 

Charleston, S. C, 1851. 



PREFACE. 



By Mastem the writer understands the owners of servants in 
distinction from tliose who hire or oversee them. The former, 
having the legal control and disposition of their servants, are re- 
garded as responsible for their treatment — a responsibility very 
onerous, and only transferable with ownership. 

By Servants is understood that class of laborers at present ob- 
taining under the domestic institutions of the Southern States ; to 
whom, if to any upon the earth, the numerous precepts of the 
Bible are addressed under that name. 

The advantage of addressing Christian masters is duly appre- 
ciated. A word to them, upon divine authority, will be a sufficient 
reason. The relation subsisting between them and other human 
beings having been distinctly recognized in the Holy Scriptures, 
the duties growing out of it remain not to be derived and enforced 
by argument. Many and plain precepts have been directed to 
them, and it is expected that they will abide by their application . 
It is hoped, however, that much of this essay will receive atten- 
tion from those not professedly Christians ; for not only do tliey 
make up a large proportion of masters, but it must be confessed 
that, in numerous instances, they have manifested a disposition to 
ameliorate the physical, social and religious condition of their 
servants quite in advance of some professedly Christians. 

The writer would add a few words in reference to himself; 
inasmuch as, on account of the agitations on this delicate subject, 
all persons may not be considered at liberty to treat it. He is 
by birth a South-Carolinian ; and by education and sympathy has 
never been less a Southerner than that nativity calls for. His 
father is a cotton planter and a slaveholder : and that he is not 



G PREFACE. 

tlic Kimo, is owinj; to those circumstances and high necessities that 
control (iiir livfs Ix-voml aijil often contrary to all previous plans. 
Wlietlier it bo consiilereil discretlituble or not, tlie writer deems 
it hv no means a disqualification for the task he has undertaken 
that n\uili of his time, in one capacity or other, has been spent on 
plantations and aniou'^ servants. Tlie matter he treats has passed 
l»efore Ijis eyes, in all the pluises of true life, and is not now, for 
the fini timr, l(K)ked upon by him in tlie li<,dit of Scripture 
teaehin^s. Having never resided north of Mason and Dixon's line, 
he has not learned to liate the master or contemn the servant. 
All his associations, from infancv' up, have secured for both of 
them the kindest feelings of his heart; and he rejoices at this op- 
|K)rtunity of promoting their mutual welfare by the expression of 
sentiments that are the result of his best observations and re- 
flections. 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 

BY THE REV. H. N. McTYEIEE, 

OF NEW -ORLEANS. 



The word Master and its correlative Servant, express a 
peculiar relation ; one that cannot be expressed by neigh- 
bor, any more than by husband and wife, or parent and 
child. These are all different relations, and imply dis- 
tinct obligations as they do distinct facts. 

The exhortations and instructions of the New Testa- 
ment, addressed to various classes and conditions, may be 
reduced to something like the following order : — duties 
of Christians as neighbors and members of society; as 
husbands and wives; as parents and children; as masters 
and servants. The relation of husband and wife, being 
sui fjeneris, is happily used to illustrate the connection 
between Christ and His Church — its subjection to and 
unit^ with Him as its Head. For the same reason 
that of master and servant is more than once used to 
illustrate the relation of all the inhabitants of the world 
to God, the Creator and Ruler ; "knowing that ye also 
have a Master in heaven.'"^ ' 

The Bible puts it beyond question that a master 
stands, to his bond-servant, one bought with his money, 

*Colossians, iv: 1. Ephesians, vi : 9. Luke xvii: 10 



8 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

or b<irn in his house, as he does not to the hired servant 
or Rtraiii^cr within his gates, or the neighbor without 
them, lie has, tlierelbre, feelings to cultivate and a part 
to perform toward him which he will do well to inquire 
into. It is not enough that enlarged and general views 
of the human family be entertained in order to under- 
^tandintr what our duty is to them that are about us. 
Our particular relations to them must b ; studied in that 
speciHc manner the Apostles have pointed out, before 
the various and interesting classes of duties that each 
devolves upon us, can be felt. One may be a good 
neighbor and yet at fault as a husband or father ; or he 
may be a good husband, a good father, and yet a bad 
master. 

The duties a master owes to his servant are as bind- 
ing upon the conscience as those the servant owes to the 
master : neither can be neglected without sin. Indeed 
as far as they go, though of a diftVrent kind, they are as 
binding as any the master may owe to any other human 
creature. Obligations to those of lower condition appeal 
powerfully to a magnanimous spirit ; they are the last 
it will dispute or fail to fulfil. In such a case, the debtor 
is also constituted guardian. If the servant is defrauded 
of his own and hardly dealt with ; if his wants are not 
regarded or his grievances redressed, to whom can ho 
complain ? His misery is voiceless. His only earthly 
appoal Tips to liim who has permitted or done these 
things — his master. To him is he commanded to sub- 
mit himself, even tmder wrongs. Escape is forbidden 
him, or even so much as "answering again." His master 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 9 

is bis sole protector. With him everything is reposed 
upon this security, that his Master also is in heaven, 
with whom there is no respect of persons. And is not this 
ample security for the conduct of every Christian, every 
God-fearing man that is a master upon earth ! 

The writer is aware, even to oppression and embar- 
rassment, of the vast number of liis fellow beings whose 
condition may be directly reached and happily affected 
by a successful address, on this subject, to Masters. It 
should not be forgotton that his remarks are made to 
only one of the parties concerned. If, therefore, he shall 
often be found sympathizing rather with the other, ho 
trusts those he addresses will allow him large freedom, 
and take this as his apology. 

DUTIES OF MASTERS TO SERVANTS CONSIDERED IN THEIR 
LOWEST SENSE AS PROPERTY ONLY : DUTIES INDICAT- 
ED BY POLICY NO LESS THAN HUMANITY. 

Servants should he judiciously ivorked: — There is an ^ 
excess of physical exertion, both ii! man and beast, which 
the constitution cannot bear. The effect may not be 
immediately visible, but in some shape or other, at 
some time, it will manifest itself. The laws of nature 
cannot be sinned against with impunity. Long after the 
date of its violence, it may be, the disordered system 
will complain and in various ways give unmistakeable 
evidence that it has been violated. There will be pecu- 
liar liability to infirmities. Many disabilities, if not incu- 
rable diseases, will be superinduced and premature old 



10 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

ajre comes on. Thus for a present advantage, a trifling 
gain, the usefuhiess and, wliat is more, the comfort of the 
future is sacrificed. For tlie reckless industry of a day, 
life is shortened by years. Too great eagerness for the 
))rofit of soft and newly grown muscles pays the penalty 
of an early superannuation. 

It matters not, as to real injury and depreciation of 
])r»)pertv, whether this overstraining be procured through 
force or persuasion. A spirited horse, without the ap- 
plication of whip or spur, may be kept at such a speed 
or draught as shall very soon render him valueless. This 
natural measure of exertion should be carefully guarded 
by every master. If his servants be coaxed or bribed to 
go beyond it, it is bad policy — if driven, it is cruelty. 
While exposure to inclement weather and inequality of 
strength to the assigned task have much to do with the 
jtroportion beween physical exhaustion and the amount 
of work performed, the quality of tools fully as much 
affects that proportion. A dull iron or an ill shaped 
helve causes the outlay of much needless strength ; and as 
that strength is humaif, it ought not be wasted. The 
achievements of science in labor-saving machinery are 
no less gratifying to the philanthropist than the mere 
economist. Toil is no more such a drudgery. Labor 
is lightened by a thousand simple and cheap arts, and the 
laborer should have the benefit of the newest and best 
improvements in his line, just as the traveller rejoices in 
the ease of the patent spring or the speed of the loco- 
motive. Man is aided in his work by natural instru- 
ments ; or that work is accommodated to his structure ; 



MASTER AND SERVAlSTf. ll 

his posture is relieved, liis muscles are not so taxed nor 
liis frame of flesli worn down. This amelioration of toil 
must be contemplated with greater satisfaction, in many 
items of it, than its increased productiveness. Masters 
should secure to their servants all these advantages. He 
who has the same work to do as another and is provided 
with only half his facilities for it, has in fact twice his 
labor to perform. 

Servants should he allowed wholesome rest : — It is a 
fixed fact that not less than seven hours in every twenty- 
four ought to be spent in sleep, by a laboring man. If 
active occupations are pushed beyond these limits, it is 
at the expense of health and hfe. The complete restora- 
tion of the muscular and nervous systems requires not 
less time, and they cannot be soundly maintained without 
it, whatever habits to the contrary may have been formed. 
Does a master ever ask himself, when his servants rise 
up at the morning summons and go out to the field, or to 
feeding stock, or to attend his household affairs, whether 
his arrangements permitted them to retire early enough 
the night before to have slept these seven hours ? 

Something more is meant by rest than sleep. There 
is a waking repose, call it leisure if you please, necessary 
to man ; so necessary that, sweet as is sleep to him, he 
will, for this, trench upon the time allotted to it. Who 
in this world of scenes and enjoyments can consent to 
take all his rest with his eyes shut ? Who finds the 
conditions of his comfort so punctiliously cared for by 
others that, when released from their employment, he 
has no business of his own to do, no taste of his own to 



12 MASTER ANt) SERVANT. 

consult? It is thought by many that our colored popu- 
lation can make out with less sleep than white persons ; 
but there is nothing in the dillerence of their constitu- 
tions to warrant this opinion. They often do with less 
sleep and live, yet it is a question how much less of life 
tliey enjoy on account of this deprivation. They are 
proverbiallv wakeful i)y night; this is already accounted 
for — thov must altond to those matters for which others 
take the day. They are also proverbially sleepy by day ; 
this is not solely the result of mental inactivity — it is 
rather the effort of wronged nature to right herself. 

The ox is unyoked, the horse is stabled ; their day's 
work is done. Without interruption they rest till another 
day. Not so, always, with the weary servant that toiled 
with both. He is convenient to demands, and many an 
extra job is got out of him before he rests. The ser- 
vants of some masters may watch the shadows with 
liojie. Their turning and lengthening are indications of 
jteriods of repose almost sacredly respected. Not so 
with others. Their servants' lot seems to be one if not 
of interminable, at least of unreasonably protracted 
employment. If they are not constantly employed, they 
are liable to be. The limits of labor and rest are not 
prescribed with any definiteness. Some masters ftdl 
into tiiis practice without consideration and for the ivant 
of it. No formal complaint is made; the habit is easily 
glided into and the servants themselves, familiar with 
the usage, are unconscious of the hardship. Thus the 
grievous abuse continues. Others, however, adopt it by 
plan and of set purpose. Many things are laid off to be 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 13 

done when the task is finished and a full day's work 
put in. And what is accomplished in this way is looked 
on as so much clear gain. But will a Christian man, 
will a man of nice sense of justice, consent to be enriched 
by such gains ? Verily, there is an insidious temptation 
to trespass in this thing. Masters should summon prin- 
ciple to their aid and resolutely, conscientiously, fix 
bounds to these encroachments of convenience and cu- 
pidity. 

A master who owns few servants and works with them 
himself, is apt to fall upon a specious excuse for this 
overreachino-. He carries his row in the field or turns 
otf his job in the shop with them. He puts no more on 
them than he takes upon himself. Nay, more ; he has 
a harder time of it than they. His rest is shorter, his 
exertion greater and more continuous, and his fare no 
better than theirs. Is it not enough for the servant that 
the master is side by side with him '^ But such reason- 
ing is unfair. The question might well be raised whether 
the master is not sinning against himself in thus hasting 
to be rich. If so, he has no right to propose his intem- 
perate labor as a criterion for others. Moreover, this 
labor is for h'uii. The gains of this excess of industry 
are to make him rich. He is stimulated by an interest 
more impulsive than any the servant can feel. This 
sustains and cheers, actually strengthens him for endur- 
ing that which to his lowly companion is killing drud- 
gery. So, the cases are not equal. What is the servant 
bettered by the additional bale of cotton or hogshead of 
tobacco extorted from exhausted nature ; only that next 



14 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

year lie shall have more companions in the field, and 
the field be enlarged. 

The rest of the Sabbath has been expressly com- 
manded by the Almighty for the man-servant and the 
maid-servant, and that upon the same grounds, and in 
the same sentence with the master himself.* It is taken 
for granted, therefore, that every Christian master will 
not only leave his servants at liberty to keep the Sab- 
bath, but, in the fear of God, promote their Sabbath- 
keej>ing. He is largely responsible for their violations 
of this holy day. A neglect of the Scriptural injunction 
and precaution — "Kemember the Sabbath day to keep 
it holy," often leaves much work for it, that might have 
been previously disposed of. It should be remembered 
as coming on, and prepared for beforehand. 

A minister of extensive and excellent reputation in his 
day, and a rigid Sabbatarian, has left the following 
memoir : — "Not long since I spent the close of the 
week with an old and respectable member of the church- 
In the morninir almost the first sound that reached mv 
ears was the axe. I reasoned Avitli my kind friend on 
the im]-)ropriety and awful consequences of such con- 
duct. He frankly ackiiowlrdo-cd liis faults; hut alleged 
that his servants were to blame — he could not control 
them — it was an express violation of his orders. As he 
could not j)rcvent it, he supposed he was innocent him- 
self. 'Do you think,' said I, 'if there was a fine of ten 
dollars only for cutting wood on the Sabbath day, that 

*Exodus XX : 8, 9, 10, 11. 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 16 

those ungovernable servants would be guilty of a violation 
of that law and compel you to pay the ten dollars every 
week V He confessed that he believed it would not be 
the case." Now, who does not see that th's work, 
though an express violation of the master's own orders, 
was made indispensable by him — as fire is indispensable. 
By deferring it till Sabbath it had to be done on Sabbath. 
A few hours of his own time devoted to it on Saturday, 
and his servant would not have been thus robbed of his 
rest, the day of its sanctity, and God of his honor. 

Notwithstanding, in every household there are certain 
servile offices not so easily disposed of. It is impossible 
to do them beforehand, difficult to dispense with them, 
and equally so to distribute them impartially and merci- 
fully. Study, joined with an honest desire after upright- 
ness, will alone enable the master in these things to do 
unto his servants "that which is just and equal."* It is 
not beneath the dignity of this essay to mention two 
humble characters especially : — the cook and the car- 
riage driver. These are but two, it may be, in each 
household ; yet when all the households are taken 
together of which they form a part, a vast multitude of 
human beings is made up which no man may feel 
ashamed to plead for. 

What is the day of rest to them, more than any other 
pay ? To the former, perhaps, an occasion of closer con_ 
finement, of more intense roasting and burning than any 
other of the seven. Our present business is not about 

*Colossians, iv : 1. 



IG MASTER AND SERVANT. 

scarce or sun)|)tuous eating on Sundays, hot dinners 
or cold dinners, only so far as tlie servant is concerned. 
Our point is made on l;il)or and rest, not on luxuries. 

The family carriage is drawn out in the morning for 
clnirch. If in the country, the place of religious assem- 
bly may be distant several miles. The driver, having 
groomed and linrnessed his horses and burnished the 
silvc-r )nuuntings, is on tlie box and away. Of the ser- 
mon and services he gets little benefit, if any. When he 
returns, the best part of the day has been spent — spent 
for another. Qe has had no companionship, no church 
]irivile<i;e, no rest. In many instances this is the plain 
history of the matter, ijear after year. In ordinary 
employment no difference is mude between him and 
others ; there is no attempt at interchange or commuta- 
tion. Let Christian masters think on these things. Is 
it not tlu-ir pressing duty to devise some scheme of 
remedy or adjustment ? None is here intruded upon 
them. The evil is stated, and with them it lies to correct 
it or let it go on so. 

Servants should he 'well clothed: — Respect for their 
own persons, tlit-ii' families and visitors, will insure this 
in those that masters kee}) about them. It is an acknow- 
ledged oft'cnce, and certainly no small one, against 
decency and politeness, to be oftered even a glass of 
water, from the hand of a filthy domestic. And, as to 
clothing their servants generally, not much blame 
attaches to masters; to many, none at all. The immense 
(juantity and the substantial quality of negro clothing 
sold })eriodically by our merchants is a speaking statis- 



MASTER AND SERVANT. lY 

tic on this subject ; one speaking favorably. The im- 
provements in the manufacture of cotton, wool and leather, 
have been a blessing to servants, most perceptibly. 
Added to this, our Southern latitude renders much 
clothing, for the most part of the year, unnecessary for 
comfort. As Solomon would have the husband of the 
virtuous woman and good housewife known by his 
apparel, when he is seen in the gates, so by the external 
appearance of their dependents may good and thrifty 
proprietors be known. There prevails a slight emulation 
of this sort which ought to be fostered. 

There are masters in the land whom it will behoove to 
inquire of themselves if they are not lacking in this duty. 
Do they regularly and sufficiently supply their servants — 
if not, there is no excuse. Let them survey their ranks, 
compare their attire with those of more generous neigh- 
bors : — perhaps they will be conscious of shame. Is 
there no foot unshod when frost is on the ground — no 
head uncovered from the weather, or no body imper- 
fectly clad when they themselves, with far less exposure, 
find all the appliances of the season necessary for' their 
comfort ? 

From their color and tropical habitudes, our colored 
population are liable to suffer peculiarly from cold. 
Their health and comfort require that they be well pro- 
tected. It is not an uncommon or unpleasant spectacle 
to see them half-stripped and basking in the genial rays 
of their native sun ; but a shivering servant is a shame 
to any master. 

Besides the coarse fabrics for working use, it is a com- 
2 



18 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

mendable custom of some masters to furnish occasion- 
ally a Sunday or holiday change. This keeps -alive 
among servants a proper self-respect, and promotes those 
associations that contribute to their moral improvement, 
and from which they would otherwise refrain. It takes 
but little in this way to diffuse a very general gladness 
over a household or plantation. 

Servants should he well fed : — Not on Botany Bay- 
provisions, stale and tainted, unless under convict punish- 
ment ; not stinted ly, unless upon diet — but wholesome 
and sound, and of this sort enough. Where they are 
required to cook their own victuals, facilities ought to be 
afforded them for doing it to the best advantage. Cook- 
ing has much to do with how far a given quantity of raw 
material will go. All its alimental properties may be 
saved and used, or a large part of them thrown away in 
the process. The best virtues of a piece of meat may be 
wasted upon a coal or spit, and what would, with skill 
and economy in its preparation, suffice for two men, will 
hardly satisfy the hunger of one. A great chemist once 
announced to the Avorld a method by which people could 
subsist on one-third of their usual allow^ance — cook it 
with threefold more care and chew it ihree times as much. 
In many a cabin, the chief article in the kitchen inven- 
tory is a worn out corn-field hoe. With this, turned up 
on its edge, the cake is baked ; hence the widely preva- 
lent name of that simplest edible form of Indian meal — 
the hoe-cake. 

Man is an animal that must take his food leisurely : 
to enjoy it, it must be brought into contact with the 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 19 

nerves of taste ; to be benefited by it, it must, before 
reaching the stomach, be rendered thoroui^hly digestible. 
Meal time is one of rest as well as refreshment to the 
servant, and this makes him habitually a slow eater. It 
should be so ; for eating in a heat, masticating imper- 
fectly, and bolting down food hurriedly, then rising up to 
exercise immediately, are conditions most unfavorable to 
digestion. 

The quantity of food meted out should not be deter- 
mined by what the master requires for himself. Exer- 
cise, open air and other causes, conspire to make the ser- 
vant the heartier eatier. One that takes note how often 
his own plate has been replenished during a single meal, 
is tempted sometimes. to suppose, seeing the portion sent 
out to servants, that their stealage is calculated upon to 
make up the complement. No marvel that they are no- 
torious for dishonesty ; and their dishonesty commonly 
begins here. Feeble moral restraints are not likely to 
stand before the cravings of appetite, painfully whetted 
by the presence of its object ; and when once they are 
broken over, security for character is lost. Temptation, 
as far as possible, should be removed from them by libe- 
rality. There is among all servants a sophistry before 
which their scruples stand a poor chance, and from an 
early age they are expert in it : — " They have worked for 
what is their master's and made it, and have a right to 
share in it ; if he does not help them, they may justifiably 
help themselves ; they are not stealing, only taking of 
their own," Equally false, but not half so specious, is the 



20 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

reasoning of the Christian master wlio justifies himself in 
withhohlinLC Nvhat is meet. 

Variety in food is healthy as it is pleasant. It keeps 
up the chemistry of the system. The servant should 
have an honest interest in the forward roasting ears, the 
rijtf fruit, the melons, potatoes, and fat stock. Even 
A«l.nn, with the liberty of every tree but one, trans- 
gressed ; what can be expected of his fallen descendants 
with more wants and less liberty ? Can a door or a 
fence, under these circumstances, protect the eighth com- 
mandment ? Little knowledge of human nature will 
teach us that theft must be the besetting sin of those so 
situated. IIow often do we hear it — who can find an 
honest servant ? The reply is — who tries to keep one 
honest ? Housewives observe the rule to let the cook 
have a taste of all her dishes : so should laborers partake of 
their harvest, and their enjoyments be identified with 
their success. Thus, there giows up a strict and mutual 
surveillance over the common interest. An oftender is 
ferretted out sharply and a mean deed exposed. They 
will obey, and wait for that portion which they are as- 
sured will be theirs, by the master's own grant. His in- 
terest is their interest. It is our cow, our horse, our hog, 
our field. 

AVhen the Fourth of July comes or the crop is laid by, 
why not have a jubilee? Scenes the fullest of true- 
hearted merriment the writer ever witnessed, were of 
this sort. A beef or mutton or porker is slaughtered. 
Near the spring, under the shade, is the barbecue. Fresh 
and abundant home-grown vegetables and fruits complete 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 21 

the feast. Cool water supplies the place of stronger drink. 
Rough and capital jokes are cracked on the fight and 
victory over General Green (the grass) ; master's health 
and the country's good are toasted, and the joyous laugh 
goes round. One such scene would be to any one a re- 
futation of all the preambles, resolutions, reports and 
speeches made for a whole year in Abolition halls. 

Every master should be able to contemplate the 
physique of his servants with mingled emotions of pride 
and pleasure. Their looks reflect his character. A more 
heart-sickening, revolting spectacle is not to be found, 
than a parcel of overworked, meanly fed, meanly clad 
servants. Starved, jaded, spiritless ; no heart to laugh 
or sing, and even without that attachment to their own- 
er which the well kept ox and ass have for theirs. It is 
not surprising that slavery agitators, fsilling upon such 
isolated cases and representing them as general, have 
excited diso-ust and indignation abroad. 

The master of such servants ought to be presented by 
his neijxhbors as a nuisance. Hq sins ajjainst the insti- 
tution, and brings unmerited reproach upon all connected 
with it. The w^'iter was once in a company of planters 
when, allusion being made to the miserly management 
of one of their profession, a generous master present said: 
" I'll warrant, without having been there, I can tell how 
all live things look on that man's plantation. His mules 
are poor and rubbed ; they wear rope bridles, and in 
summer time the o-ear is tied on with bark hamestrino-s. 
His negroes' shins are mangy and their faces dry and 
crusty, as though no grease had been about their mouths 



22 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

in a long while : their hair is kinked into long, hard 
l^uuts — and no pig on those premises has a curl in his 
tail." 

Servaiits should be well housed : — It is a common re- 
mark of tourists that the location, construction and ar- 
ranixement of dwelling houses in reference to appearance, 
health and comfort, is very little regarded at the South. 
The direction of prevailing winds, the relative position of 
swamps, and the fjicilities of ventilation, do not give a 
rule in settling these important items. A shade tree 
perhaps, determines the locality. Wood and brick are 
thrown into a pile, into which doors and windows are cut 
at random. Human beings take up their abode there 
and families are reared. Proper hygienic regulations, to 
say nothing of architectural taste, would remove many 
costly residences or modify their structure. When Lon- 
don was burned down in 1666, it proved a signal bless- 
inj;. The old style buildings were thus put out of the 
way, and the city was rebuilded on a new style, under 
the direction of Sir Christopher Wren, who proved him- 
self the beneftictor of the metropolis and kingdom by 
introducing certain improvements, promotive of healthful 
exposure and a free circulation of air ; — improvements 
that were simple and cost nothing but suggestion. The 
mortality of London fell oft' as though it had changed its 
latitude and climate. The plague has never since visited 
it; a visitation escaped, in the opinion of scientific men, 
by attention to a few, plain and common sense principles 
of architecture. 

Buch, too fre(|uently, being the foots about the habita- 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 23 

lions of the whites, those of the bhicks cannot be better. 
A glance at the servants' quarter, in town or country, 
will leave no one in doubt why, when pestilence prevails, 
it is so fatal to this population. The wonder only is that 
they do not oftener suffer a pestilence ; fortunately, not 
much of their time is passed in these pent up and noisome 
abodes. A large proportion of human diseases is bred in 
human habitations. When vegetable matter, heat and 
moisture combine, there must be present febrile miasma. 
Bearing this in view, if many masters would survey their 
servants' cabins, they would immediately go to work, 
pulling down the old and putting up new ones. It would 
be a saving in the end. It would soon be saved out of 
doctors' bills and the sick list. When cholera rages, 
whitewash is brought into requisition and sanitary regu- 
lations established. Why cease to enforce them when 
the panic subsides ? These same causes, of easy preven- 
tion, do always, more or less, work sickness and death. 

There are sections in the South where servants are 
allowed to build their own houses. As this is done at 
spare times, with poor materials, and, in a majority of 
cases, without the abihty to use any tool more complex 
than the club-axe, of course they are hovels. The only 
professed openings are a low door and chimney. The 
joints and cracks that supply the deficiency of plan for 
ventilation and light, render them incapable of being 
kept warm or dry. When it rains, they leak ; when it is 
cold, they are uncomfortable. 

The houses of servants may be so built and arranged 
as not only to avoid the usual appearance of squalidness, 



24 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

but to bo an ornament to the premises. How pleasing 
the village-like aspect of many plantations — the cabins, 
or framed or brick cottages of the same size and shape, 
elevated from the ground, whitewashed and grouped in 
convenient order ! It is as little trouble when planting 
a tree to put it in the right as the wrong place ; so in 
building a house, to place it on a line with others. 
After all, one thing still is to be looked to : no house, of 
what dimensions soever, can be comfortable if crowded. 

The benevolent have conferred no greater blessing on 
the poor than by providing them a free and full supply 
of water ; this munificence alone has made more than 
one name illustrious. Pure water, like the air we breathe, 
ought to be convenient and abundant. For drinking, 
cooking, washing and personal cleanliness, nothing can 
substitute it ; and in every one of these respects servants 
will sutler if their masters do not arrange for their sup- 
ply. When water is impure it serves none of these 
purposes well ; and when it is scarce or must be toted 
a great distance, they will be but scantily realized. 

Thus have been enumerated the simplest and primary 
conditions of servitude, the lowest rewards of labor. In 
the Scriptures it is written, " Thou shalt not muzzle the 
mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn."* If God 
takes care for oxen, how much more for men ? His 
Christian duties and his worldly interests bind the master 
to. these things. Nothing less can he be expected to do. 
lie who complains at them has no business with servants. 

* Deut. XXV : 4. 1 Cor. ix : 9. 1 Tim. v : 18. 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 25 

If, on account of his management or soil or trade, lie 
cannot perform this much, he cannot do his duty and 
ought to dissolve the relation out of which it grows. 
Till these claims are met, the master has no right to 
count upon any gains from his servant's labor. The 
original cost must be paid before profits can be declared. 
And he who, before this be done, enters into luxuries, 
lives beyond his righteous income and is under condem- 
nation. 

It is readily perceived that when all masters learn and 
discharge these duties, the servants of the South as a 
class will be better off than the free of their own color 
in the North or elsewhere, and elevated quite above the 
average of the world's poor. Comparisons may be chal- 
lenged, and gainsaying silenced. It is by no means 
sought to avoid such a conclusion. The assertion is 
made, without hazard, that Southern labor, with its pro- 
ductiveness and singular concentration, can accomplish 
all this. 

DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS TO SERVANTS AS SOCIAL 

BEINGS. 

Moral Treatment : — Servants are capable of this, for 
they are spirit as well as flesh. Their sympathies and 
affections, their capacity for the joys and sorrows of the 
highest mode of existence, must all be taken into ac- 
count in their government. Authority should be exer- 
cised without wantonness or unnecessary harshness. 
Commands should be issued kindly, " forbearing threat- 



26 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

eDing."* Reproacbful epithets and railing should be 
avoided. Wliy should not a servant's feelings be res- 
pected ? These cannot be returned or resented, even in 
their low kind, and are the uncalled for insults of power 
over weakness. 

Punishment : — The magistrate and the parent and the 
master have a final resort to corporal pains. The rod 
and the sword thej must all bear, and sometimes not in 
vain. One law in the infliction of punishment should 
govern them alike — they should be inflicted in the man- 
ner and to the extent only necessary for correction — and 
not for the gratification of revenge. Moderation becomes 
the master ; for his servant is in his hands to do with 
him as he will. His severity is not hmited " to forty 
stripes save one," nor is his anger cooled by the delays 
of the law. Are not corporal penalties sometimes ad- 
ministered in a manner, and to an extent, evidently not 
dictated by any legitimate aims, but urged on by the 
phrensy of passion ? 

The master rules to great disadvantage to himself who 
depends solely or mainly upon the fear of punishment. 
There is a higher law of control. The influence of so- 
ciety should be brought to bear. The inner man should 
be addressed. Shame and mortification are heavier lash- 
es than any whip thong. A desire to beget favor and 
preserve confidence is the highest guarantee for faithful- 
ness. Can human beings who have no restraints but the 
handcuff and the lock-up, no stimulus but the lash, be 

* Eph. vi : 9. 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 27 

safe, trustworthy or profitable ? It is expensive, and, 
indeed, impossible, to keep tliera always in awe. This is 
the regime that makes eye-servants, runaways and out- 
laws. What is the service of man worth, if it be not a 
ivilling service ? It requires many turns and strokes to 
complete a job that no watching and driving can get out 
of him. That which is grudgingly done can not be well 
done. There is this pecuHarity in human labor — it can 
direct itself. Will and intelligence conspire to make the 
strength put forth, of superior application to that of 
brutes or machines. But, if this element of its value 
be destroyed out of it by moral treatment, it becomes 
comparatively worthless. 

Social regulations : — The ha]>f^ess of men and their 
chief excellencies depend largely upon the rules which 
govern their intercourse. Improvement in them is pro- 
gress indeed. Legislators, in the exercise of their high- 
est wisdom, establish these for their masters ; and the 
masters for their servants. To acquit themselves of this 
duty, they need judgment, observation and experience, 
and the gracious guidance of Heaven. 

Some masters have a code of laws as well understood 
as if written. Their household and plantation servants 
present the appearance of well-governed communities. 
A tribunal exists where complamts may be referred, grie- 
vances redressed and disputes settled. All transactions 
of a social nature proceed upon settled principles. They 
do not criminally trifle with their servants in words and 
promises ; but conscientiously keep a good foith towards 
them, and constrain them to keep it among themselves. 



28 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

The car of tlie highest authority is ever open. It is 
counted no unwortliy condescension to inquire into the 
disturbances of thi:^ subordinate empire, and to set the 
wrong right. The lowest functions of justice and judg- 
ment are not despised. This is worthy of all praise. 

But there are masters who seem yet to be ignorant 
of the social nature of the beings under them ; and that 
to deny them the blessings of well ordered society is to 
subject them to the most serious of all deprivations. 
They live together as they list. So the appointed work 
is done and the tribute mone}' forthcoming, they are 
allowed to do to one another as it seemeth ffood in their 
own eyes. With the exception of this one law of ivork 
all the evils of anaWtiy are endured. There is no 
society ; it is mere herding. His sovereign authority is 
never interposed, so no limbs are broken. There is 
injustice and oppression among them ; they are left to 
settle their contentions upon the rude principles of 
might and right. The master will not trouble himself 
with the details of their questions— like another Gallio, 
caring for none of these things. 

Matrimonial Alliances: — Marriage is honorable in 
all men. In conferring upon them the inestimable bless- 
ings of society, in whatever condition, they must be 
taught to regard it in its true character and proper obli- 
gations. To this the serious attention of masters is 
invited. Unless something be done here, the founda- 
tions and elements of society must be wanting among 
servants. Bigamy and polygamy, with all their corrup- 
tions and evils, will prevail ; and the domestic constitu- 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 29 

tion deo:enerate into the most limited and loose of all 
partnerships. When neither law, nor custom, nor the 
necessity of providing support to their common offspring 
binds the parties together, the merest caprice will dis- 
solve the compact; nor can the pecuHarities of their 
condition hinder the deplorable results which follow in 
the natural course. A habit of intercourse and social 
relations tending to these results, should be arrested by 
the timely and appropriate rebuke of the master. The 
Grecians in their semi barbarous days, were more concern- 
ed for the number than the morality of their citizens ; 
and, so a healthy child was born, no questions were asked. 
But those who have received the seventh commandment 
cannot wink at such things, and be guiltless before God. 
Owing so much of their own happiness to this relation, 
they must not be indifferent to the degree in which the 
happiness of their servants is liable to be affected by 
licentiousness rioting among them. 

The writer has conversed with clergymen of different 
denominations who have endeavored to embrace this 
part of our population in church communion, and it 
appears that this is the chief stumbling block to their 
Christianity. At least two-thirds of all the irregularities ./ 
and scandalous offences calling for the exercise of church 
discipline originate here, directly or remotely. 

They are exposed to these disorders by that predom- 
inance of passion always pertaining to inferior culture ; 
also from the intimacy with which they are associated ; 
but more, from the informality of their marriage alliances. 
When nothing but the private consent of the parties is 



80 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

requisile for marriage, and the first intimation of it is its 
fruit, it must follow ihat all lines soon fade way. 

It is the duty of Christian masters to promote virtuous 
and fixed attachments between the sexes, and while 
encourairinc: marriao-c to o-uard it with all the forms of 
consent, postponement, preparation and solemn consum- 
mation. A marriage supper is often given. Beforehand 
the impediments should be looked into, and if any grave 
ones exist they should work a prohibition. Let the 
institution be magnified ; and when once consummated 
by the master's permission, all the mutual rights it con- 
fers should be protected by his authority. 

Here is an instance in point : it occurred several years 
ago on the plantation of a Christian master. Among 
his servants was a young and good looking, but not very 
amiable woman, who had had as many husbands as the 
Samaritan, and was childless. At the time alluded to 
she was about to take another, who if taken in the same 
style, would doubtless soon have gone the way of his 
predecessors. As was the custom, when a servant not 
owned on the place wished to take a wife on it, and 
obtain the liberty of the premises, this last suitor came 
to the master with the usual form of request — "May I 

have for a wife, please sir." "What," said the 

master, '*! thought she had a husband ; have they 
parted ?" "0 yes sir, and now she says she'll have me." 
The master bethought him that a little ceremony might 
help the matter, and as this was a hard case, resolved to 
try it. So, he picked up a book and went down to the 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 31 

"quarter." The pair were formally drawn out before 
him, and opening his book he pronounced a ceremony. 
The writer, though he heard them, would not vouch 
that the words used were in any book, but believes the 
one used was an old copy of the English Reader. The 
effect was maofical. The matter for the first time took 
a serious turn. They twain became one flesh. Chil- 
dren were born to them ; and, at last information, they 
bade fair to live together in love and peace to their lives' 
end. 

Family ties and Connections: — To be "without natural 
affection" is, according to St. Paul, descriptive of the 
worst state of being. Kindred relations should be fos- 
tered, for they give to society its strongest bonds. With- 
out them it lacks cohesiveness and can only be main- 
tained by factitious means. This is the order of nature, 
and if it be set aside, the master's influence cannot be so 
applied as to counteract the disorder. The ties of bro- 
ther and sister, and even of moredista nt connections, 
should be felt. Parents must not be cut off from chil- 
dren and children must be taught respect and reverence 
for their parents. 

Servants ought, as far as possible, to be divided into 
famihes, and thus there is an opportunity for family 
government. ^Vllat has been said already upon their 
houses might be enlarged upon here. In the coun- 
try, where ground is no object, a considerable space 
may be allotted to each dwelling. Poultry may be raised 
or vegetables, or the market may be furnished with more 
substantial staples. Why not gratify the home feeling 



82 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

of the servant ? Local as well as family associations may 
thus easily be cast about him, as strong yet pleasing 
cords biiKling him to his master. He may be so involved 
in the order of things that he would not, for any conside- 
ration, have it disturbed. He is made happier and safer ; 
put beyond discontent or the temptations to rebellion 
and abduction ; for he gains nothing in comparison to 
what he loses. His comforts cannot be removed with 
him and he will stay with them. But break him loose 
and keep him isolated from such attachments, and what 
is there to detain him in service ? He is as insecure as 
any other restless roaming creature when an opportunity 
oiFei"s of escaping restraint. 

The strength of these attachments is being constantly 
tested in those servants who, even when beyond the line, 
voluntarily return home, notwithstanding all the persua- 
sions with which they are plied. In the Old Testament 
such a c\se is anticipated and provided for. The servant 
is bound to a master for only a term of years, at the ex- 
piration of which he is to go out free, as he came in, and 
for nothing. In the meantime he conceives that affection 
for his master, and his master's house, which grows up 
naturally under kind treatment. A wife, of the servants, 
is given to him, who bears him sons and daughters. 
Now the year of his release has rolled round and he 
plainly says, "I love my master, my wife and my chil- 
dren ; I will not go out free." Then, instead of emanci- 
pation, a law is made and provided for his entering into 
perpetual servitude.* 

^Exodus, xsL : fi. Deut., r7 : 16, 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 33 

A gratifying' change has been, of J ate years, wrought 
in the public mind as to buying and selling servants, and 
otherwise breaking up their family ties by emigration, 
the partition of estates, &c. A few mnsters, and for tlie 
honor of humanity be it said they are few^ will sell to 
the higliest bidder. Heart-strings and tears stand not, 
with them, in the way of dollars and cents. A tender 
Joseph is torn away from a disconsolate sire and sold to 
Ishmaelitish merchants for so many pieces of silver. 
The price only is considered, not the new master, or place, 
or distance. 

Now this may be a proper punishment for great and 
incorrigible offenders. But unless it be done for such a 
reason, or unless it be the result of a necessity absolutely 
uncontrollable by the master, it is inexcusable. Chris- 
tian masters generally know their duty in this thing, and 
are doing it. They sacrifice other property to save their 
servants; and if finally compelled to part with them, 
willingly sacrifice upon their market value to secure for 
them good homes and keep them in families. If under 
other circumstances a servant is disposed of, it is gene- 
rally with his consent and solicitation. It is surely an 
awful thing to jjut asunder those whom God has joined 
together. Wherever these endearing connections are 
held liable to being rent, at the caprices of trade, ser- 
vants are often led, in self-defence, to stand aloof from 
them, and thus abandon themselves to those promiscuous 
habits, at once demoralizing and destructive. 

Sick servants : — The centurion commends himself to 
every generous heart who is represented in the gospel as 
3 



34 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

addressing Christ in behalf of his sick servant.* What 
afibctionate soHcitude he displays'. It leads him to 
secure the best remedial aid, and call in one he judged 
himself unworthy to approach and of whom his house 
was unworthy. That servant was "dear unto him." 
None of his fellow-servants cared for him as his master 
did, and none could do as much. Noble master ! One 
hardly knows which to admire most, his humble views 
of himself, his reverence for the physician, or his tender- 
ness for the patient. Saving faith could hardly be want- 
ing in the presence of such qualities. The servant was 
not his companion — yet it was not incompatible with 
tiieir relations that he should be dear to him. It was 
not his value that moved in his master this fine ex- 
hibition of character. He abandoned him not to pine 
in neo-lcct ; but doubtless his daily visits cheered him 
and his own hand alleviated his miseries. 

Old servants : — These are the heir-looms of the 
house. It is a pleasing thing to see an old family servant 
cherished. Perhaps he laid the foundations of the 
family's wealth, and is now listened to as the chronicler 
of its legends. Let him enjoy the evening of hfe and 
repose upon the fruits of labor past. Cast him not off, 
now he is old and grey-headed, nor forsake liim when 
his strength fails. The kind master will for no conside- 
ration part with such an one. He will feel his support 
no burden, but a pleasure rather. He will indulge him ; 
feed him from his own table ; treat him Avith mingled 

*Luke Tij:l, 10. 



MASTER AND SERVANT, 35 

tenderness and respect, and see to it that others treat him 
likewise. For sucli a o-reen and cheerful old 'd<re should 
every faithful servant be permitted to hope. 

DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS TO SERVANTS AS RELI- 
GIOUS BEINGS. 

The redemption that is in Jesus Christ compasses the 
"bond and free." From its earliest preaching, both were 
addressed and both made up the first Christian churches. 
In reference to religion, to God, to eternity, and the great 
paternity of the human race, servants stand upon a com- 
mon platform with their masters. Whatever cavils a 
false philosophy may start, they cannot be denied their 
full ethical character. Experiments have, for generations 
past, been carried on, and they are abundantly satisfac- 
tory on this point. The most unexceptionable specimens 
of Christianity are to be. found among them. It would 
be a thrilling page that should give their history. The 
highest style of regenerated man and the fitness of the 
gospel for all classes would be at once and admirably 
shown. Not only has the invvard experience answered 
to every Scripture standard, but the life has been exem- 
plary, the death happy. Facts are the confutation of 
infidel theories upon this subject. Many a master is 
ready to grant, that among his servants are better Chris- 
tians than himself. 

It would be madness in us to question the propriety 
of it, but certainly such is the arrangement' of Provi- 
dence — that several human beings may be so related to 



36 MASTER AKD SERVANT. 

anotlicr, that their spiritual as well as physical and social 
wt'lt'are may be materially aftected for good or evil by 
liim — yea almost controlled. The abuse of this relation, 
or its liabiHty to abuse, is not, as some have argued in 
the matter of slavery, to be considered as an argument a 
prio)'i against the lawfulness of the relation itself. For 
those authorized by God, His word gives directions how 
they shall be maintained. The abuse results from neg- 
lecting duty : — for this, an account must be rendered 
to God, and sometimes indeed the account must be 
awful. 

The relation of parent and child, not to mention others, 
is a lawful one. Yet the parent may so abuse the power 
it confers, as to ruin his child bodily, mentally and spiritu- 
ally. Or he may cultivate his body and mind and social 
qualities, and totally neglect his spiritual culture. He 
may so surround him by influences and shut him in by 
jirohibitions as to deprave and keep him depraved ; and 
while all the consequences of impiety shall fall heavily 
upon the child, the parent is to blame as the cause. 
Saith the wise man, "There is a generation that curseth 
their father and doth not bless their mother.'"'^ Not- 
withstanding, though father and mother may have so 
performed their parts as to leave no grateful remem- 
brances of themselves to those who were dependent upon 
them, this dependence was of God. 

The master has souls as well as bodies under his care. 
The responsibility of eternal as well as temporal interests 

♦Proverbs, XXX : 11, 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 37 

rests upon his shoulders. The teacher of relif^ion can 
be forbid his premises, and his servants can be hindered 
from going to him wherever he erects his stand for in- 
struction. Thus, in the heart of Christendom, a servants' 
quarter may be kept as dark as Paganism. Or other- 
wise — and the Christian master will do otherwise — free 
access may be allowed them to the Word of life. The 
Evangelist may be invited to come and teach, an 1 his 
way be prepared before hira. How profoundly do ser- 
vants respect that messenger who is introduced by the 
master ! How weighty with them the tidings he listens 
to with reverence! If he possess that moral influence 
with them he ought to have, a word or deed of his can 
magnify the cause in their eyes, or put contempt upon 
it. Such respons'bility should make him tremble : such 
unparalleled opportunity for doing good should make 
him rejoice. 

There is need of discretion. On the one hand, the 
master may be wanting in a show of becoming interest : 
he may fail culpably in pressing his servants to the im- 
provement of their religious privileges. For, what he 
esteems lightly, will be lightly esteemed by them. He 
is chargeable with a measure of influence, such as no 
one else possesses, that may be brought savingly to bear 
upon them. On the other hand, he may extend to reli- 
gion such injudicious patronage as will interfere with a 
wholesome religious liberty. His servants may not re- 
main unbelievers, but may become hypocrites. Now, all 
that is asked for Christianity is a fair operation. Let no 
extra inducements be held out for its profession ; no disa- 



38 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

bilities be incurred by its non-profession. Let religion 
be offered to the servant, as it is to the master, with 
friendly, affectionate commendations, but no other re- 
wards than its own blessings. 

Provislims for relimous instruction : — In cities and 
villages, where churches are numerous and convenient, 
jKM'mission for attendance may discharge the nifister, as 
far as public ministrations to his servants are concerned. 
But in rural districts, where they are scarce and distant, 
permission to go, in many instances, amounts to no gos- 
pel ])rivilege at all. To the strong and healthy the walk 
may bo trifling; but the aged and infirm, who need 
heavenly consolations as much as any, are entirely de- 
}»rived unless the means of going be furnished. Arrived 
at the place of worship, where are the accommodations ? 
Sometimes a portion of the church has been assigned 
them, roomy and comfortably seated : — sometimes this 
has been overlooked, and they are left to stroll around, 
or listen to the sermon at the window, or under the poor 
shelter of an arbor. They have been invited to the gos- 
])el feast, but no places have been provided for them. 
With hungering, unfed souls they look on — the specta- 
tors of others' piety and not partakers of the common 
grace. 

It is desirable that white and colored worship to- 
gether : one reason among many is, that no distinctions 
of religion arise between them. Religion appears in its 
l(jveliest form where rich and ])oor, bond and free, meet 
together, and to a common Father, through a common 
Saviour, drinking into one Spirit, offer up songs and 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 39 

prayers, and hear what all have an equal interest in. 
The attempt to make the services intelligible and inter- 
esting to an audience thus composed, must ever iiDpart 
to them the excellent qualities of strength and perspi- 
cuity, simplicity and earnestness. But whenever this is 
impracticable, the master, either alone or jointly with 
his nearest neighbors, ought to make special provi- 
sions for his servants. A chapel should be built tbr 
them, in which he and his own family may be occasion- 
ally seen, and a stated supply of religious instruction 
engaged for. In this thing numerous and noble exam- 
ples have already been set. 

The gospel is free in what it offers ; but it cannot be 
sent free. The subject-matter of infinite worth, is with- 
out money and without price ; but more or less expense 
is incurred in its promulgation. Some body must pay 
for preaching to servants. A plain question of justice is, 
who ought to pay for it ? Who, but the master ? He is 
directly concerned in their improvement ; no one is so re- 
sponsible to God for their salvation ; he gets and enjoys the 
benefit of their toil, and can he consent that they should 
receive the bread of life as a gratuity from others ! Will 
he cast them as spiritual beneficiaries upon the charity 
of some benevolent man or association of men ! He is 
bound in honesty and honor, and ought to claim it as a 
privilege, to step forward and meet all these charges 
cheerfully. It is as much a debt he owes as that incurred 
for their food and raiment : a debt, of which none has 
precedence, for no wants are greater and more pressing 
than those it w^as incurred to meet ; — and if the master 



40 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

do not meet it, then it is others who provide his servants 
with tlie gospel and not he. And in this connection 
may be quoted a text with better apphcation than is 
usually given it : " But if any provide not for his own, 
and es])ecially for those of his own house, he hath denied 
tlie faith and is worse than an infidel."'* The so-called 
Christian master conceding to his colored dependents 
the possession of souls — souls to be saved or lost, and 
the necessity of embracing the gospel in order to salva- 
tion, with all their means in his hands, leaves them to 
perish. IIow cruel, how worse than inGdel! For the 
infidel, discarding the whole matter of soul and salva- 
tion, is consistent. 

It takes from the moral beauty and effectiveness of 
family worship, if the domestics are not joined in it. 
They, with the master, and mistress, and children, are 
partakers of the grace of God, and should have their 
share in the Home-Altar. Of family prayer, it has been 
said, " It is the oil which removes friction, and causes 
all the complicated wheels of the family to move smooth- 
ly and noiselessly." The servants of the liousehold 
should be in their places there ; not by invitation only, 
but as a fixed rule, a duty. A master may no more 
neglect their s])iritual instruction, than a parent the spi- 
ritual instruction of his children. The Lord crave this 
high praise to Abraham — "For I know him that he will 
command his children and his household after him, and 
they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and 

* 1 Timothy v. 8. 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 41 

judgment."* He exerted his magisterial authority as 
well as parental, to constrain servants and children in 
the ways of religion. He entered not into the covenant 
alone ; but on the self same day, he and his son received 
the seal of it, and all his servants, born in his house, or 
bought with money of the stranger.f 

In the temple service, things brought as offerings 
were pecuHarly holy. The priests and their immediate 
families only were permitted to eat of them. Even a 
daughter of a priest, married to one out of the priest- 
hood, was by that act placed beyond the liberty of the 
family. Not so with the bond-servant ; his position and 
rights are distinctly recognized : — " There shall no stran- 
ger eat of the holy thing ; a sojourner of the priest, or 
an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. But 
if the priest buy any soul with his money he shall eat of 
it, and he that is born in his house, they shall eat of his 
meat. If the priest's daughter also be married unto a 
stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy 
things."! 

Does not this relation of a master to his servants im- 
pose upon him the same attention to his spiritual wants 
as other members of his family ? His contributions to 
the support of the gospel, therefore, ought to bear a 
righteous proportion to the souls dependent on him for 
its instructions ; and what he expends in this way ex- 
clusively for his servant's benefit cannot be called cha- 

* Genesis, xviii. 19. t Genesis, xvu. 26, 27. 

I Leviticus, xxii. 10, 11, 12. 



42 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

rity — it cannot be put to the account of strictly benevo- 
lent or missionary contributions. As justly might his 
taxes be regarded a donation to the government, or 
the provision-stores he orders for his house and planta- 
tion be set do^vn to the score of almsgiving. After these 
home-obligations to the gospel have been met, then it has 
claims upon him with all others enjoying its benefits. It 
must not only be supported, but sent abroad. There are 
those who have never heard its sound, and they must hear 
and receive it before they can so prize it, as, in their turn, 
to support and send it out. There are servants, who are 
not so fortunate as to have masters with a Christian 
concern for their souls. In caring for these, charity be- 
gins. Here is missionary work proper. The aid given 
in such a cause only is a contribution to Christian be- 
nevolence. 

Servants, if not furnished with enlightened devotion, 
fall into superstition. It is, therefore, expedient, as it is 
kind, to meet the wants of their religious nature with 
sound doctrine. Superstition is always hurtful, and to 
the whole man. Its imaginings are dark and gloomy, 
its rites cruel, its yoke debasing, and all its tendencies 
wasting and corrupting. Who has not remarked these 
effects among foreign heathens ; and, to more or less 
extent, they must prevail among domestic heathens. 
Devil-worship, conjuration and witchcraft, are the malign 
forms of it among the servants of the South, to whom 
" the way, the truth and the life," has not been made 
known. 

There is nothing in the Bible which a master might 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 43 

fear for his servant to know ; not even a bad master. 
There is nothing in the simple text, or its correct en- 
largement, that impairs his authority. On the contrary, 
that authority is guarded by sanctions stronger than any 
within his reach. As a neighbor is a better neighbor, 
and a child a better child, for being a consistent, well- 
informed Christian, so it is with a servant. To the fear 
of corporeal punishment, or the love of reward, there is 
superadded a conscience of duty. He is rendered con- 
tented with his lot, because it is the will of God. His 
temper and conduct will be improved. Docility, honesty, 
fidelity, will be promoted. Submission is taught on the 
ground of .principle, not necessity. There is not a pre- 
cept to start the thought of servile insurrection. No 
reasonable master could draw out a code of laws for the 
government of his servants that will meet his own wel- 
fare at so many points, as those to be found in the Word 
of God. 

When Sarai, Abraham's wife, dealt hardly with her 
maid-servant Hagar, she fled from her. In running away 
Hagar was met by an angel, who thus instructed her — 
"Return to thy mistress and submit thyself under her 
hands.''^ One of the letters of St. Paul was borne by a 
converted servant back to his master, who, but for his 
conversion and apostolic instructions, would, doubtless, 
never have laid eyes on the fugitive again.f 

Lest servants should suppose that upon their embra- 
cing Christianity, on equal terms with their Christian 

* Genesis, xvi. 6-1. f Epistle to Philemon by Onesimus, 



44 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

masters, and thereby becoming brethren^ the relation of 
master and servant was disturbed and its authority lost, 
they are thus admonished : — " Let every man abide in 
the same callinor wherein he was called. Art thou called 
being a servant ? Care not for it."* " Let as many 
servants as are under the yoke count their own masters 
worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doc- 
trine be not blasphemed. And they that have beheving 
masters, let them not despise them (or take license to 
disregard them as such) because they are brethren; but 
rather do them service, because they are faithful and 
beloved partakers of the benefit."! 

*How secure and comfortable must that master's posi- 
tion be whose servants have learned such rules as these : 
" Servants obey in all things your masters according to 
the flesh ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in 
singleness of heart, fearing God ; and whatsoever ye do, 
do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men.];" " Ex- 
hort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, 
and to please them well in all things, not answering 
again ; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity."! 
" Servants be subject to your masters with all fear ; not 
only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward."§ 
The legitimate effect of conversion upon a servant in 
the promotion of every estimable quality is impressively 
alluded to by St. Paul, in returning the converted One- 
siraus to his Christian master : — " Which in time past 

* 1 Cor, vii. 20, 21. f 1 Timothy, vL 1, 2. 

X Colossians, iii. 22, 23. || Titus, ii. 9, 10. § 1 Peter, 11, 18. 



MASTER AND SERVANT. 45 

was to thee ?^?zprofitable, but now profitable to thee and 
me."* The change for the better in Onesimus was 
worth this journey to Rome. The Apostle, doubtless, 
from his acquaintance with the master, was not ignorant 
of the worthless character of the servant previously ; nor 
was he ignorant of what his gospel could do in such a 
case. Now, the fugitive and thief is restored to his mas- 
ter by conscientious promptings, no m.ore to run away or 
steal. But the joy of the master must have fallen far 
below that of the Christian, for a soul was saved from 
death. 

All considerations, then, unite in engaging the Christian 
master to do his duty towards his servants as religious 
beings ; his interests, their happiness, and the account 
that must be rendered by him to his Master in heaven. 
Thousands of souls for whom Christ died, would have 
cause to rejoice were Christian masters awakened to their 
responsibilities on this subject. The Church which labors 
under so many embarrassments and hindrances for their 
salvation, would, with a co-operation coming from the 
right quarter, soon do its work in this interesting field 
lying around our doors, and concentrate its strength in 
the regions beyond. 

There comes a period in every servant's history whom 
his master survives, that must press home to the mas- 
ter's heart weighty reflections. It is when the toil of 
this life ends in death, and that death is accomplished 
without any cheering prospect of the life to come ; and 

* Philemon, U. 



46 MASTER AND SERVANT. 

the servant finds his humble grave. "He dwelt long 
with nie and received laws from me. He served me well, 
and Avhen the day was done demanded no hire. What 
have I done for him ? Bears he no charge against me 
to my Master in heaven ? Did I treat him as having a 
suul to save, and what have I done for his salvation ? 
Am I clear of his blood ?" Depend upon it, Christian 
master, your servants \vill confront you before His bar 
Avith whoni is no respect of persons, and how can you 
be ai)proved when they complain — " No man cared for 

our souls V 

CRESCENT. 



MELVILLE LETTERS ; 



OE, 



THE DUTIES OF MASTERS 



TO THEIE SERVANTS. 



BY 

REV. C. F. STURGIS, 

of Greensboro', Alabama. 



" The first great duty of masters is to study the duties of masters." 



CHAKLESTOIS', S. C. I 

SOUTHERN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY. 

1851. 



PREFACE.. 



These letters purport to be a correspondence between two 
brothers, who here appear under the fictitious names of Joseph 
and William Melville. 

The elder of the brothers (Joseph) is, by supposition, not a 
professor of religion, but a man religiously educated — a politician 
and a member of the legal profession. The younger is supposed 
to be a professed Christian, a conscientious and religious man. 

How far the things contained in these letters have had a real 
existence, it is, perhaps, not necessary to say. No sensible man 
would think of objecting to "JEsop's Fables," or the ''Pilgr'mi's 
Progress" because the one makes beasts, and birds, and fishes, 
talk, or because the other describes characters which, perhaps, 
never had an existence, but in the beautiful conceptions of the 
author. 

We all feel that the moral remains the same, whether the 
beasts and birds talked or not, and whether there ever was pre- 
cisely such a personage as " Giant Despair," or " the Interpreter." 

All that the author asks is, that the same indulgence be ex- 
tended to his humble letters. 



MELVILLE LETTERS; 

OR, THE 

DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 



Q ^ October 21 th, 18—. 

My Dear Brother Joseph, — 

I HAVE for some time been impressed with a duty to 
you, frum which I have shrunk, until I can resist my con- 
victions no longer. The esteem in which I have e^"er held 
you, both as a man and as my own beloved brother, would 
constrain me to bear any thing that did not involve a 
conscientious conviction of duty, rather than inflict any, 
even the slightest pain, upon your feelings ; and with 
this declaration, which I beg you to receive in its fullest 
meaning, I proceed to state what I have no doubt will 
surprise you ; that the subject upon which I have felt 
these conscientious convictions, and concerning which I 
conceive that I owe you a duty, is to address you seri- 
ously upon the question, " ivhether yo^i are doing your 
whole duty to your servants or not?'''' I am aware that 
this communication will create the more surprise, when 
you remember my frequent expressions of admiration of 



64 MELVILLE LETTERS ', OR, THE 

your well conducted farm, and the comfort and apparent 
happiness of your people. I know that you believe me 
incapable of duplicity, and yet there is, I admit, an ap- 
parent discrepancy between these expressions of admira- 
tion and the to})ic introduced, which, I confess, needs, 
and which, I promise, shall receive in its proper place a 
due explanation. Not to trespass upon you, however, 
one moment, without your permission, and, indeed, ap- 
probation, I shall close this, by remarking-, that if you 
are not disinclined, I would like to engage in a corres- 
pondence with you upon this subject ; and that you may 
have distinctly before you my object, in thus seeming to 
obtrude this question, I ^v•ill state it briefly as follows : 

1st. For the benefit of the servant. 

2d. For the benefit and increased happiness of the 
master. 

3d. For the sake of our beloved country, which is so 
frequently and so severely agitated, almost to dismem- 
berment, by the question of the moral rectitude of do- 
mestic servitude. In reference to this last topic, I may 
be allowed to remark, that I regard it as of incalculable 
importance, even more than I can express ; I sincerely 
believe, and sensibly feel, that if masters could be pre- 
vailed upon to study, and would perform their whole 
duty to their servants, nine-tenths, if not all the objec- 
tions to slavery, especially in reasonable minds, would 
be silenced thereby. 

Hoping to hear from you soon, 

I am, your afiiectionate brother, 

WILLIAM R. MELVILLE. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 55 



Melville Cottage^ November 1th, 18 — . 
My Dear William, — 

Yours of the 27th October was received, and, I must 
admit, as you anticipated, I ivas surprised not. a little. 
I cannot imagine the many expressions of commendation 
that you have bestowed upon me as a master, to have 
been in the shghtest degree insincere ; and yet, wh-it shall 
I say ? I can but use your own words, " they require 
explanation^ 

I shall assent to your request to correspond upon this 
subject ; if for no other reason, from a desire to know 
what fault you find in my manner of discharging ray 
duties in this matter, but I beg leave to remind you of 
the admonition of Solomon, concerning being ''righteous 
over-much,^'' which admonition you will easily remember. 
I would not for a moment compare, my dear good 
brother, to those politico-religionists who are continually 
disturbing the nation upon this subject ; yet I do think 
that I see, in the disposition to agitate this question, iliat 
which makes me uneasy ; and I fear that the etfort will 
fail of any of these beneficial results you seem to antici- 
pate, either to the servant, the master, or to the country. 
Indeed, it is my honest conviction, that the agitation of 
this question has resulted already in laying both mas- 
ters and legislators under a kind of necesbity to be 
more stringent in reference to the blacks ; and the con- 
sequences have been, that the condition of the slave 
population at the South has been injured, rather than 



56 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

benefited by such officious interference ; and, rest as- 
sured, what has been, will be again and always. 

In regard to the correspondence, I heartily accord the 
privilege of expressing to me your views upon that sub- 
ject ; and, indeed, as already intimated, my curiosity is 
a little excited to know upon what points you consider 
me remiss ; indeed, there is scarcely one of them who 
does not laugh more and sigh less than I do. 

However, not to protract this, I close by hoping that 
I shall hear from you soon ; and, I'll w^arrant one thing, 
where you find one master, religious or irreligious, whose 
servants fare better, I will find ten whose servants fare 
worse than mine. But, at the same time, if you can 
show me what duty I neglect, I hold myself pledged, as 
a candid man, to listen, and lay myself open to convic- 
tion. 

I am., your affectionate brother, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE. 



G , November 20th, 18.—. 

My Dear Brother Joseph, — 

In the first place, I thank you for the privilege to 
"Write you my views of the duties of masters. But, at 
the same time, I must say, with all deference to your 
general good judgment, that I conclude you to have 
misunderstood both Solomon and myself, in applying 
his injunction not to be " righteous over-much'''' to me ; 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 57 

but, as neither he (Solomon) nor I am at all likely to 
demand an apology, you can be let down gently for this 
fault ; I will only say, that however expert my brother 
may be at a point of law, or a question of political econ- 
omy, I have, in my day, known more competent exposi- 
tors of Scripture. 

I shall seize the earliest opportunity to enter upon 
the proposed discussion, and hope (your ordinarily excel- 
lent opinion to the contrary notwithstanding) that it will 
be in my power, (even mine) to make good my pro- 
posed work, viz : — To show, as suggested, that all par- 
ties, the servant, the master and the country, must be 
benefited by a proper and temperate discussion of this 
subject. 

With regfard to the difficulties with which this discus- 
sion is invested, my views are precisely as your own ; 
and I agree with you perfectly in your opinion, respect- 
ing the effects of Northern interference in this matter ; I 
siucerely believe that it has thrown the prospects of the 
black man, like the shadow on the dial of Ahaz, ten 
degrees backward. I shall enter upon this discussion 
as early as possible. 

In the meantime, 

I remain, your affectionate brother, 

WILLIAM R. MELVILLE. 



68 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 



G , November SOth, 18 — . 

Dear Joseph, — 

According to promise and our agreement, I now enter 
upon the expression of my views concerning the great 
question before us. But I shall more particularly, at this 
time, attempt to clear the way for the discussion, by 
showing that there is a necessity that the duties of mas- 
ters be discussed ; and that there is such a thing as dis- 
cussing these duties in a manner that is perfectly safe. 

fill undertaking the first of these propositions, I beg 
leave to remark, that unless masters take the absurd po- 
sition, that in the very act of becoming masters, they, 
by some wonderful intuition or instinctive process, una- 
nalogous to any thing else in nature, even all masters, 
without exception, become possessed of all the know- 
ledge and experience necessary to a master ; unless, I 
say, masters believe, and can successfully show to man- 
kind all this to be true, then we claim that to some 
masters, at least, this discussion is necessary. But, as I 
confidently presume that none will attempt to defend a 
position like this, then, it must be admitted, that the dis- 
cussion is necessary to some masters. 

If, then, it be admitted that to some masters the dis- 
cussion is needful, the following points are established : 

First. The servants of such masters may be improved 
in their conditions, either morally or physically, or both. 

Secondly. The masters themselves may be made hap- 
pier, in witnessing the improved condition of their people ; 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 59 

and not only happier, but more prosperous ; for it will 
be shown throughout this discussion, that the interest of 
the servant, and the real interests of the master, are one 
and inseparable. 

If these things are proved, then it will follow, by an 
obvious consequence, that the country must be benefited, 
in the silencing of the clamor that has for years dis- 
turbed our peace, and which, ever and anon, threatens 
our overthrow. 

I have attentively weighed the best arguments that 
have been produced against slavery, and am convinced 
that the question of slavery, as an evil in itself, must 
always go against the abolitionist, as long as the Bible 
is taken as authority, and is interpreted according to the 
established laws of interpretation ; and that it is only when 
the abuses growing out of slavery are drawn into the 
discussion; that any thing like a tolerable case can be 
made out by them. Such, I honestly believe, will be 
the result of a proper discussion of this subject ; but let 
masters pertinaciously refuse to consider their duties^ 
and they at once confirm the impression already on many 
minds, that they are resolved to stand by their institu- 
tion right or wrong ; and they thus open the way for all 
the absurd statements of our enemies to be believed. 

I know that such considerations as these must and 
will impress you, for they impress every high-minded 
man ; but I am aware, too, of what your feelings are 
upon this subject, and they are the feelings of thousands, 
viz : — That it will never do to begin such a discussion. 
I am, however, of a different opinion. If, as I flatter 



60 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

myself, I have shown the condition of servants, morally 
and physically, can be benefited — if masters can be 
made happier in witnessing this improvement in the 
condition of their people — and last, but not least, if the 
condition of our beloved country can be benefited by 
the allaying of the spirit of discord that is rife upon this 
subject, then I hold that it requires weighty considera- 
tions indeed lo justify us in refusing to discuss it. For ray 
own part, I am accustomed to believe that duty is always 
safe. And, moreover, although ice m-Aj shrink from the 
responsibility of establishing a healthful public opinion 
concerning this thing, still it must be done by those who 
come after us ; and our posterity may have this task to 
perform under circumstances far less favorable than even 
those by which we are surrounded. 

You urge, as a main ground of your objection, '''■past 
experiences^'' and I fully accord with you, that the agita- 
tion of these matters by the abolitionists, has thrown the 
whole affair backward, rather than forward. But I con- 
ceive the pi'oposed discussion to be a very different thing. 
They (the abolitionists) send emissaries to tamper 
with the blacks, and awaken in their minds dissatisfac- 
tion and jealousies. I propose a free interchange of 
opinion among Southern men, as regards the best means 
of rendering them comfortable and happy — a difference, 
you perceive, as wide as the poles. They publish fancy 
descrijjtions of cruelties and barbarities, the most enor- 
mous and revolting. I propose descriptions of model 
farms, and mills, and manufactories, conducted by slave 
labor. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 61 

They get up mixed assemblies to harangue about 
sending missionaries to evangelize Southern slaveholders. 
I propose the discussion of the best means by which the 
great mass of the slave population may bo brought un- 
der the healthful influences of rehgion, and supplied 
regularly with the means of religious instruction and 
religious enjoyment. 

How such discussions as these are calculated to awa- 
ken prejudices or uneasiness, in any well organized and 
intelligent mind, I am at a loss to determine. 

Lest, however, I weary you, I bring this letter to a 
close, by earnestly desiring that you give me your views 
in the most candid manner, concerning what I have now 
said. Have I convinced you that " The first great 

DUTY OF MASTERS IS TO DISCUSS THE DUTIES OF MASTERS, 
WITH A VIEW TO THEIR PERFORMANCE ?" And havC I 

succeeded, in any degree, in convincing you that there is 
a possibility of discussing these duties in a manner that 
is safe to all parties ? 

I cannot say that my mind is full}^ made up, as to the 
particular modes and vehicles by which this discussion 
should be carried on. I am satisfied that any thing like 
parade, or public demonstration of any kind, would be 
decidedly unadvisable. So far as my mind is made up, I 
am of the opinion that communications to agricultural, 
religious, or other papei-s, would be productive of good- 
The results of experiments in farming or manufacturing, 
are among the things we want ; and the best modes of 
doing every thing, the great result to be aimed at. As 



62 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

to the details, I am free to confess the superiority of 
your judgment. 

Hoping to hear from you soon, and in full, 
I remain yours fraternally, 

WILLIAM R. MELVILLE. 



Here a letter omitted, but the character of it may 
be inferred from the next, which is in part an answer. 

, December 9 th, 18 — . 



My Dear Joseph, — 

Yours of the 5th inst., in answer to my last, was duly 
received, and it gratifies me to know that my views so 
nearly accord with your own. As to the few minor 
points upon which we differ, I repeat what I said, that 
results are what I seek ; if I can convince slavehold- 
ers that their first and gieat duty is to discuss these 
duties, and that it can be done with safety, I am en- 
tirely indifferent as regards the means, provided they be 
honorable. And now this branch of the subject being 
disposed of, I have a proposition to submit, which, I 
hope, will meet your views. I forewarn you, however, 
that I am about to surprise you as much as when I first 
sprung this discussion upon you. But if I can show 
sufficient reasons why you should accede to my sugges- 
tions, I hope and believe that you will accede to them ; 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 63 

and if I do not show sufficient reasons, you will, indeed 
you ought, to decline. 

Not to keep you longer in suspense, I will announce 
my suggestion. It is, that you commence, at your ear- 
liest convenience, and write me your views of the duties 
of masters, in one letter, or a series of letters, as may 
best suit yourself; and if you have no objection, I will 
restrict the discussion to this, viz : — " The duties of such 
masters as feel responsible to God for the discharge 
the duties they owe their slaves^ 

The considerations I offer why you should consent to 
this a»'e various, as follows : 

First. It will give an agreeable variety to the discus- 
sion, and thereby relieve the tediousness of one writing, 
and the other reading, all that is to be said upon the 
subject. 

Secondly. I may become, in turn, a learner from you, 
as well as appear as your instructor. 

Thirdly and chiefly. I am strongly inchned to the 
opinion that there are very many who, if they could be 
induced to express their thoughts upon this subject, 
could ffive far more intelliofent and consistent views than 
myself. 

In addition, I will say, that as I invited this discussion 
originally, and with the avowed purpose of pointing out 
to you wherein I considered your system of duties de- 
fective, I can more clearly know wherein I conceive it to 
be so, when I come to understand your opinions more 
fully. 

Should these considerations weigh with you, so as to 



\ 

64 MELVILLE LETTERS *, OR, THE 

induce your assent, I will suggest that you embody, as 
far as may be convenient, an outline of your own plans; 
and, as far as you may be acquainted therewith, an out- 
line also of the plans of your neighbor, Mr. M . 

Hoping that this strange proposal will be agreeable to 
you, and that I shall hear from you soon, I remain 
yours, affectionately, 

WILLIAM R. MELVILLE. 



1 



Melville Cottage, December 12th, 18 — . 
My Dear William, — 

Yours of the 9th is before me, and I remark that you 
may take the credit of some adroitness, at least; in that 
you originally drew me into this singular correspondence, 
and now, in a more singular proposal, design to throw 
the task of writing upon myself I have it in mind to 
rally you a little upon this when w^e meet, but shall yield 
to the force of the considerations presented, and at an 
early day will enter u])on the writing of a few letters, 
upon the following, or some such topics, viz : 

First. — Habitations. 

Second. — Clothing. 

Thirdly. — Food, including arrangements for })repar- 
ing it, etc. 

Fourthly. — Arrangements for sickness, including pro- 
per care of the aged, of women, and of children. 

Fifthly. — Their own time. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 66 

Sixthly. — Pastimes, boliclays, etc. 

Seventhly. — Overseers, overworkinjy, etc. 

Eighthly. — Punishments. By which ominous word 1 
mean, more properly, measures by which to avoid pun- 
ishment. 

Yours, very affectionately, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE. 



Melville Cottage, December 17 th, 18 — . 
My Dear William, — 

According to promise, I now enter upon a series of 
letters, in which I propose to set forth my views of the 
duties of masters — Christian masters, or any other, who 
wish to have a quiet conscience, and a prosperous busi- 
ness. I shall keep in my mind's eye a farm, large or 
small ; a manufactory, or indeed any establishment con^ 
ducted by slave labor, or where shives are assembled in 
considerable numbers. It occurs to me, that it is chiefly 
in reference to such cases that light is particularly 
needed, since serv^mts employed about our houses, in 
ordinary domestic business, have generally the same fare 
as their masters, and live nearly as they do. I may 
furthei' remark, that the principles laid down for such 
cases as I have mentioned, will be applicable to all 
others. 

At the outset, I would assert what I regard as a fun- 
damental principle, — that a man's servants will not, gene- 



a 



66 MELVILLE letters; or, the 

rally, long continue to be his, unless he is willing, in some 
sense, to belong also to them. In other words, the man 
who expects every thing about him to prosper and 
flourish, with but little or no personal attention of his 
own, will, in the end, sooner or later, find that he has 
been building upon a very uncertain basis. 

I think my proposition was to speak first of ha1>ita- 
tations. I need not say that there is room for some im- 
provement in this particular. I am reminded of your 
remark, that '^masters do not come instinctively to a 
knowltdrje of their duties,''^ for I am of the opinion that 
the instinct of some masters is not far above that of the 
beaver, in the matter of building a comfortable cabin. 
Really, if I were actuated by no other feeling than per- 
sonal pride, I would scorn to see such Avretched, filthy 
cabins, as I have seen on the plantations of wealthy 
farmers. Farmers ? No ! A man is not a farmer who 
is a sloven in his arrangements. When I })ass by such 
settlements, and see miserable smoky hovels, in low, 
damp situations, black and disagreeable to the sight, I 
set that man down as a bad economist, and as wanting 
in all the higher qualities, which make the intelligent 
and public spirited fjirmer; and if his negroes are not 
thievish and degraded, they deserve almost to be canon- 
ized as saints, for it seems nearly enough to make any 
man thievish and mean, to live in the midst of such filth 
and squalor. On the other hand, when I see a hand- 
some row, or group of houses, on a gentle slope of a 
hill, all neatly whitewashed, with little garden spots at- 
tached to each, and nice rows of trees, and neat grass 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 67 

plats, upon which the children can sport, and where the 
men and women can sit and enjoy the evening when 
their work is done, — when T see such a spectacle as this, 
I feel thjit, contrasting the condition of that peo|)le with 
the condition of their ancestors in Africa, or with that of 
the laboring classes in most of the nations of Europe, 
we may safely challenge the criticism of the most violent 
of abolitionists. 

I am happy, too, to say, that such spectacles are not only 
common throughout this country, but are becoming in- 
creasingly so; and, I flatter myself, that the time is ra- 
pidly approaching, when the great body of slaveholdei's 
will know enough of true economy, to understand that 
it consists mainly in having every thing around arranged 
in the best and most comfortable style. 

That any man should neglect such improvements as 
these, is the more surprising, when we consider — lirst, 
that they can be made with so little trouble, or outlay of 
actual cash ; secondly, the interest the people themselves 
would take in them, and how much it would add to their 
comfort, and consequently to their contentment ; and, 
thirdly, the very great advantage to health, as well as 
to a neat and cheerful appearance. But, as I before re- 
marked, since it is my intention to present the mere 
seeds of thoughts, I will let this much suiSce, as a short 
chapter concerning habitations. I will take up the sub- 
ject of clothing in my next, which you may expect ere 

long. 

Your affectionate brother, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE. 



68 MELVILLE LETTERS *, OR, THE 

The letter of William, in answer of the preceding, is 
omitted for the sake of condensation. Its nature may be 
gathered from the following : 

Melville Cottage^ December 22d, 18 — . 
Mv Dear Brother William, — 

As you express yourself pleased with my short letter 
concerning the habitations of servants, I am the more en- 
couraged to proceed to the consideration of the next 
topic. To say that servants cannot perform their work 
properly, unless they are properly clad, is to assert a 
mere truism, that none would think of doubting ; and 
yet how many act as though it were not so. What I 
said of the feeling of degradation, as created by living in 
a squalid and filthy habitation, is still more emphatically 
true, of being clothed in filthy and ragged garments. 
Furthermore, badly clad servants are so very liable to 
diseases of various kinds, especially those connected with 
cold, inclement and rainy weather. A warm climate is 
the natural home of the black man, and in our latitude 
he suffers more than ourselves, if unprotected from the 
severity of the weather. Even when they are not car- 
ried off by acute diseases, they sooner show the effects of 
age ; and many of them, late in life, suffer from rheu- 
matic and other affections, in consequence of exposure 
during youth or manhood. It was an amusing prescrip- 
tion, but certainly a very judicious one, of a facetious 
physician of my acquaintance, who recommended to a 
negro man some simple preparation, and told him to say 



DUTIES OP MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 69 

to his master that it must be " worked off wilh a new 
warm jacket and trowsers^ Such pi'escriptions would 
cure many of the diseases " which their Jlesh is heir to'"' 
and certainly " loould not he bad to taker 

This is, perhaps, the most appropriate place, in which 
to suggest a matter of the very first consequence to 
them, viz : the providing- of suitable beds and bedding. 
We have all the materials on a farm wherewith to make 
an abundant supply of good comfortable mattresses, 
and with (we may say) literally no expense worthy a 
moments consideration, when brought into contrast with 
the health and comfort of the people. Shucks and cot- 
ton, which make, when properly prepared, an admirable 
mattress, are abundant on any farm ; and the prepara- 
tion could be taken, among other things, as rainy day's 
work ; and thus, at an expense that would never be felt, 
the servants could be well provided for in this respect. 
And, if masters would try the experiment, I doubt not 
that comforters, made by tacking, in the manner of a 
mattress, bats of cotton, or which is fully as good and 
more convenient, refuse cotton, simply ginned for the 
purpose, and laid between two pieces of cloth, they 
would, in my judgment, find it cheaper than the ordinary 
mode of furnishing them with blankets ; and would, 
beyond doubt, do more towards keeping them warm as 
covering for the beds. 

As the subject of rainy day's work has been thus in- 
cidentally mentioned, I will make a slight digression to 
notice one or two things respecting this subject, and then 
return to the train of thoughts which I had in mind. It 



70 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

may be worth while to remark, that the true farmer 
needs almost never to require his people to labor in the 
rain. All that is necessary, is to employ a little forecast 
in providing suitable work within doors, or, at least, 
under shelter. Without any design of being very spe- 
cific, I may yet mention a few things that may be done 
to advantage at such times. Making of " matti-esses and 
comforters,'''' has already been mentioned, to which might 
be added, for the women, making of clothing, weaving, 
knitting, in which, particularly the last, even the child- 
ren and older persons miglit be engaged ; whilst the 
men and larger boys might be occupied in repairing, 
painting,'^ and even making many of the more ordinary 
tools used upon the farm ; to which might be added, the 
grinding of axes, and many other small jobs, all of which 
require time to be performed ; and which, if not done in 
rainy weather, will certainly deduct from the labors of a 
fair day, either by hands being delayed to attend to it, 
or by working with a defective tool. 

In connection with this, I may say, further, that on 
laro-e f^irms the making: of shoes, much of which could 
be done on rainy days, and even of hats, or rather caps, 
for the men and boys, might be made decidedly profit- 
able. 

The hides and skins of wild animals, which could be 
easily collected about a form, and which are, generally, 

* My allusion to painting, will, perhaps, remind you of my 
propensity to dabble in " had and oil" but I am assured any 
farmer will see liis own by painting his tools, and many other 
things, even to the handle of a hoe or rake. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. Yl 

almost wasted, could thus be worked up greatly to the 
advantage of the farm^ and the comfort^ and, conse- 
quently, the health of the jjeojile. 

But to return from this dig'ression ; the miserable po- 
licy of allowing servants to go to their labor in rags, for 
want of comfortable clothing, and to employ the hours 
of Saturday night, almost to Sabbath morning, in wash- 
i no- those miserable o-arments ; then to lie down about 
half naked on Sunday, until these garments are dry, or 
put them on half dry, and thereby bring on rheumatic, 
and other acute or inflammatory diseases, I cannot speak 
of in terms of sufficient leprobation. 

I am aware that the blacks are the most thoughtless 
and improvident of beings, — being lineal descendants in 
character, at least, of that pair of brothei'S spoken of by 
Solomon in Proverbs, xviii. 9 : one slothful, the other a 
great waster ; but, I am aware, too, that if proper clo- 
thing be provided, the authority of the master, together 
with the sentiment of self-respect, which most of them 
feel, will induce them to appear genteel. 

1 do not refer to this topic, because .neglect in this 
respect is very general, but simply that I may express 
myself in reference to the bad economy displayed by 
some masters in regard to clothing, as also in regard to 
habitations. 

A man had better hire out, or sell one or more of his 
hands, to raise means wherewith to clothe the remainder. 
He would procure more self-respect, more respect from 
his brother farmers, make better crops, and pay far less 
doctor's bill by so doing; and I am sure these are con- 



72 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

siderations sufficient to weigh with any man with sense 
enough to be a farmer. 

Since your criticism of my attempts to expound and 
apply Scripture, I have been less disposed to venture 
into that hne of things, but I have a passage in mind in 
reference to the point of which I am now treating, of 
the applicability of which I feel sure I am not mistaken. 
I think it is in the Epistle of St. James. The words are 
these: — "The hire of the laborers who have reaped 
down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth , 
and the cry is entered into the ears of the Lord of Sa- 
baoth." Now, akhough the slave is not hired, yet there 
are certain things, which, in my judgment, the Almighty 
regards as hire, to wit : — Food, clothing, habitations, 
medicine, and attendance in sickness or old ao-e, etc. etc. : 
and if these are kept back, it is an injustice, and so much 
the greater, as the poor slave has no appeal. Such 
'^keeping hack hy fraud'" is bad enough in one of us who 
make no pretensions to personal piety ; but when it is 
done b\ those who profess to have imbibed the spirit of 
Him who went about doing good, I cannot express to 
you how much I abhor it. I do not say this from any 
feeling of disrespect to any religious man as sueli. No I 
God forbid ! I have been reared from childhood to 
respect religion, religious things and religious people ; 
and I hope no conduct in its professors, will ever induce 
in me any other sentiment. The inhumanity of some who 
bear the Christian name, towards these poor slaves, who, 
as I before said, have no redress, awakens in me feelings 
that I w^ould not like to express, even to you. You, pro- 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 73 

fessors of religion, are the ones to speak to cacli otlier on 
these matters. The Bible makes it your duty to exliort and 
admonish one another ; and, although I can say that I am 
glad you have sprung this discussion upon me, I still think 
there are of your brethren in the Church, for whom you 
might also feel concerned. As a ffirmer and a Southron, 
I boldly declare, that as long as such bad economy is 
practised, in even a few cases, it will be impossible to gag 
the abolitionists; and Southern men ought to protest 
against all such bad economy, on the grounds that al- 
though a man is in some sense a sovereign at home, and 
on his own farm, still there is a sense in which ^ve are 
mutually the keepers of the characters of each other. 
I know that fanatical men and women will rant against 
us, do as w^e will ; but then the duty of masters is to 
act so, that all such ranting shall be false. But not to 
be tedious, I close, and shall write you my views in re- 
gard to food in a few days. 

Your affectionate brother, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE. 



Melville Cottage, January 3(7, 18 — . 
Dear William, — 

Christmas and New-Year's day being past, I now 
resume the series of topics in wdiicli I was engaged. 
Before proceeding, I determined to converse with my 
excellent neighbor, Mr. M., who is one of the neatest 
farmers in all my acquaintance. Indeed, my knowledge 



74 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

of him and his arrangements, satisfied me that a de- 
scrij)tion of his plan would express very clearly my 
views of what ouf/ht to he. 

I remark, however, before entering upon the proposed 
description, that laboring persons require a good, even 
abundant, supply of solid substantial food, and of it a 
fair proportion of animal food. I am aware that the 
Irish peasantry eat but little meat, and yet labor hard, 
and, it is said, enjoy iiealth ; still, the black man is different, 
and he seems to need a different treatment; much may 
be due to climate, and the diseases incident thereto. 
With regard to the relative advantage of boarding ser- 
vants in common, and giving them a weekly allowance, 
I do not undertake to decide for otbers, but believe the 
experience of all who have tried both, to be in favor of 
the formef plan. 

I am aware that many servants complain very much 
at being boarded at a common table, and some never 
will be satisfied. There are as queer crabsticks of hu- 
manity among the blacks as there are among the whites ; 
but, as my motto is, " the best modes of doing evei'y 
thing ^^'' when I have found out that best mode, I am not 
apt to be driven from my position by grumbling. Blacks, 
like all other uncultivated persons, are strongly attached 
to old customs. We have all heard of the Dutchman, 
who considered it a sufficient reason for carrying his grist 
to mill in one end of the bao;, and a h\^ stone in the 
other, because " mine fader dit shoP Whilst whites 
then, with better information, are so doggedly attached 
to old ways, we need not be surprised at the poor blacks 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TMEIR SERVANTS. 75 

for following in their footsteps. I would, however, reason 
the case with them ; and endeavor, as far as I. could, by 
showino- the advantao-es of boardinof in common, to re- 
concile them to it, T would even compromise the point 
a little, by allowing them to take their suppers in their 
own houses. 

It is but a dictate of common sense, however, to say, 
that after a servant has done his morning's work, he is 
not capable of cooking and eating his dinner in the usual 
noon-time, and then have leisure to rest preparatory to 
the labors of the afternoon. 

In reference to the arrangements upon the farm of 

Mr. M , I will give you as brief a description as is 

consistent with completeness. He, you are aware, boards 
his servants in common, and the longer he tries it, the 
better he is pleased. His arrangements are asTollows: — 
His dining room for the servants, (which, on occasion, 
serves as a chapel,) and kitchen, are all under one roof. 
The boilers are set into brick work, and immediately in 
the rear; and connected with the same chimney is ano- 
ther large boiler, into which is thrown the refuse of 
vegetables, the bran, and other matters suitable for 
stock ; and thus the cook can conveniently attend to both 
operations at the same time. I would remark, that this 
latter boiler serves another valuable purpose, in furnish- 
ing an abundant supply of hot water for various pur- 
poses, as washing their clothes, their persons, etc., etc. 

A good garden, which Mr. M always manages to 

have, is valuable. Spring, summer and winter, his hands 
are supplied with such vegetables as are in season. Not 



76 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

a very great variety, it is true, but abundant, sucb as 
they are. We were sitting in bis piazza when I beard 
the' " tavern bell,'''' as it is called. Water is abundant 
(and of good qualitv,) for them to wash before they eat ; 
(and for all other purposes,) a thing I admired very 
much, for I believe with the Turks, that if cleanliness is 
not a moral virtue, still it is so near it, that it is very 
difficult to be virtuous and filthy. We walked to the 
" tavern," and saw them take their places, which they 
did " decently and in crde?;''^ each one, as I was inform- 
ed, having a particular place assigned as permanently 
his. They ate with no apparent haste, each one retiring 
when satisfied, without a regular dismission, although 
they are accustomed to wait until a blessing is asked, 
before eatyig. 

I observed an arrangement that I admire much, viz : 
a large shed, convenient to the dining room, furnished 
with rude benches, and there the servants either sat 
down to chat, or stretched themselves for a short nap, as 
they chose, but were not allowed to go to their houses. 

Their ''siesta,''^* as I suppose it may be called, lasts 
from one hour to one hour and a half; and, in long sum- 
mer days, they have still more time at noon. 

At the given signal, they all return to work, appa- 
rently almost as fresh as when they came out in the 
morning. The value of the afternoon's w^ork must be 
greatly increased by this system. 

There are, however, still some servants who prefer the 

* Spanish word signifying afternoon's nap or rest. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. Y7 

old pystern, of throwing a slice of meat upon the coals ; 
and when burned up to a crisp, like the sole of an old 
boot, eating it with a hoe, or ash-cake, about half done, 
and some *' ^r^'^?i5," a little scalded. But, as I said, these 
are like some of the whites, " behind the timesy Im- 
provements will go on, and the world cannot stop, until 
such people awake from their slumbers, I am of the 
opinion, however, that this will become a general system, 
and that opposition will gradually die out. 

I shall resume the subject soon, and, in my next, shall 
treat of arrangements for the sick, etc. 
Your affectionate brother, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE. 



Melville Cottage, January 12th, 18 — . 
Dear William, — 

According to promise, I proceed to consider, in the 
present letter, arrangements for sickness, including pro- 
per accommodations for the comfort of the old and in- 
firm ; also, of women and of children. I consider a 
hospital an indispensable appendage to every well-con- 
ducted farm, manufcictory, or any other establishment, 
where slaves, or, indeed, any other human beings are 
assembled in considerable numbers. And, by a hospital 
here, I mean merely this — a more than ordinarily com- 
fortable negro house; so situated as regards location, 



78 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

internal arraDgenients, and every other particular, as to 
be, at the same time, a convenient place for the sick, or 
lying-in servant ; and, also, convenient to be overlooked 
by the master, overseer, or any other, on whom that 
duty might devolve. I am aware that the first idea that 
strikes the mind of many a man is, that, with such con- 
venient arrangements for sickness, we should always have 
some one sick, or pretending to be so. I confess that 
there is a considerable amount of complaining among ser- 
vants that is merely feigned ; but, in answer to all the 
objections against the hospital, medicin.^. chest, and all 
that class of accommodations, arising from a source like 
this, I would offer the following considerations : — First, 
a shrewd observer w^ould soon detect such cases of feigned 
sickness ; and, in cases of detection, the deceiver would 
be laid under suspicion ever after ; and thus would, in 
the end, be more a loser than gainer by the operation. 
Secondl}^ that such a system of deception could never 
be carried on more than a few days by the same indi- 
vidual; and the loss of a few days work, of a lazy ser- 
vant, can never be a matter of so much consequence, as 
to weigh against the chances of a really sick and suffer- 
ing one lacking such accommodations. And, thirdly, I 
am not so sure that such servants as feign sickness, might 
not be broken of their deceptive practices, by knowing 
that, as soon as they were unable to perform their daily 
labor, they must take up their residence in the hospital, 
and receive medical attendance. If such servants could 
be allowed to lounge about their own houses, they are 
willing enough, at times, to feign sickness ; but it be- 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 79 

comes a very different affair, when they are to be sent to 
the hospital and take physic. 

Yours, affectionately, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE. 



Melville Cottage, January 20tk, 18 — . 
My Dear William, — 

I NOW approach a branch of this subject, upon which 
it will be difficult to establish any thing like uniform 
sentiments and practices. I allude to what is technically 
called, among the blacks, " our own time.'''' Li addition 
to habitations, food, clothing, medicine, and medical at- 
tendance, black people expect, and, by a kind of con- 
ventional usage, almost demand, a number of little rights 
and privileges, which, although like the ''common law," 
not referable to any positive enactments, are, hke it, also 
of very binding influence. If any one wishes to try the 
strength of these informal concessions, let him attempt 
to take " Chi'iistmas''' from them without a fair equiva- 
lent, and he will very probably be made to feel the force 
of public sentiment upon these points. One of the most 
effectual modes of inducin^servants to perform their 
duties with ch<-erfulness, is to recognize all those little 
points ; not, perhaps, as matters of right, but as conces- 
sions cheerfully made from the feeling of good will that 
exists between master and servant. 

This '' time'''' is employed by them in various ways, 
for the purpose of earning a few dollars with which to 



80 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

purchase little articles, such as they may fanc}'' — Sim- 
day shoes or hat, an umbrella, or something that masters 
do not usually furnish. Of course, a kind and conside- 
rate master desires that their time may be made availa- 
ble to some useful end, and not frittered away in idleness 
or unproductive labor. In order that such may not be 
the results, I have known judicious planters to pursue a 
course hke this. At the usual planting season, a certain 
portion of land is laid out for the servants, to be culti- 
vated in something that will command cash when gath- 
ered in. A compact is then entered into with the 
hands, to have their croo worked and managed precisely 
as the masters crop ; the proceeds to be divided out ac- 
cording to the general deservings of each, including 
industry, good conduct, etc., etc. Such a plan will com- 
mend itself to the mind of a kind master, for many 
reasons; and, among the most forcible, is, that it substi- 
tutes a consideration more ennobling than those too 
often employed as an incentive to action, viz : — the lash, 
scolding, etc. I leave to you the task of being the ex- 
positor of Scripture upon these matters; but I think I 
have read, that as good and great a man as Moses, " had 
respect :o the recompense of reward." And, whilst I 
would scorn the idea of bribiui^; servants or children, to 
do their duty, I would hoM it not only as kind, but as a 
moral duty to reward those who did well, and all in pro- 
portion as they did well. 

Whilst the thought is on my mind, and lest it should 
esca])e me in the proper place, I will remark, that al- 
though I have placed in my arrangement a chapter on 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 81 

punishment, yet my system, so far as my crude concep- 
tions may be called one, contemplates rather the preven- 
tion of the necessity of punishment, than the recommenda- 
tion of any plans or modes of punishment. i\nd, it is my 
opinion that some well devised system of rewards, would 
not only act as an incentive to industry and general 
good conduct, but the being deprived of those rewards 
for misconduct, might be rendered one of the most effec- 
tual modes of administering punishment. This manner 
of employing their own time, for their benefit, it will be 
readily seen, may be made a powerful auxiliary of this 
sort. Under this head, it might not be improper to re- 
mark, that a master is, as it were, laid under the neces- 
sity (in self-defence,) to afford them the requisite time 
for washing and mending their clothes, cleansing about 
their houses, and such little matters. In self-defence I 
say, for if such opportunities are not aftbrded, he will 
find himself at the head of a body of rag-muffins, of 
whom he would be ashamed, did he meet them upon 
the pubhc highways. 

But to return from this digression ; when the crop is 
laid by, some planters hold a grand festival. Sheep and 
pigs, and other fiitlings, are killed ; and a bountiful, 
though not very magnificent^ dinner is pi'ovided. Mas- 
ter, and mistress, and neighboi-s, and negroes assemble, 
and black and white are seen struno- alonp' the a'reat ta- 
ble, like the keys of a piano; and, like the aforesaid 
instrument, the black keys make fully as much noise as 
the white ; all mingle for a while in the utmost harmony 
and good feeling ; many a merry joke goes round, 
6 



82 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

songs are sung, and all is rustic hilarity and mirth. Some 
old fellow rigs up a " bavjo,^^ or discourses music (not 
very Orphean, it is admitted,) from an old fiddle with 
sundry knots in the strings, or, like another Paganini, 
plays as well upon three, or, perchance, upon two ; and 
some of the young fry get a pair of bones as " casta- 
nets," and " Old Fiyinny^^^ "Walk Jaw-bone," and 
other aii's, are performed for the amusement of " missus 
and the children^ 

Although I must confess that I have enjoyed such 
scenes, I clearly yield the palm of doing up these things 
in the most excellent style, to the servants of my es- 
teemed friend, Mr. M . lie being himself a truly reli- 
gious man, feels bound to set his face against some of the 
modes of enjoyment common amongst them, particu- 
larly that rude stamping of the ground, which, by a 
fiction of language, they call dancing. But, as every 
good and sensible man ought, he never denies them one 
gratification, without substituting another as good, or 
better. He takes considerable interest in their learning 
to sing, and well do they repay him for his trouble. I 
enjoyed extremeb^ the spectacle of a choir of a dozen or 
twenty good voices, pouring forth, one after another, the 
most popular religious songs. It was really good music, 
and they sung with a " t'/m." 

In whatever way, however, the annual festival is con- 
ducted, it is looked forward to with pleasing anticipa- 
tions. It lightens many a task ; and as the time of 
" laying by the crop''' is apt to be a season of increased 
labor, that increase of labor is performed with more 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 83 

cheerfulness, as it is preparatory to the " big din- 
nerT 

There is one thing that renders this an effectual means 
of operating upon them, viz : — the knowledge that it is 
a mere gi-atuity, to be bestowed or withheld at the plea- 
sure of the master, and to be regulated entirely accord- 
ing to their deservings, and not hke Christmas, a thing 
of such lono^ standino; as to have become one of the 
conventional laws of master and servant. 

It may be as appropi-iate in this, as in any other 
place, to say that I have seldom, or never, known a ju- 
dicious master, who did not consider it decidedly injuri- 
ous for servants to be allowed to roam at large, either 
on holidays, or at other times ; wisdom and benevolence 
both dictate, that with servants, as with children, their 
appropriate enjoyments should, as far as possible, be 
provided for them at home ; make home happy and 
comfortable, and they will, both servants and children, be 
contented, and, consequently, far more happy when at 
home ; but let the opposite feeling be indulged, and like 
all other stimulants, it must be administered stronger 
every day, to atford the accustomed enjoyment. 

You have only to turn your attention to this thing, to 
be convinced of the justice of these remarks. 

I shall in my next, proceed to take up the topics of 
overseers and punishment, (or rather the best modes of 
avoiding punishment,) which I shall send you in the 
course of a few days. 

Affectionately yours, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE, 



84 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 



Melville Cottage, January 25th, 18 — . 
My Dear William, — 

According to promise, I now t.'ike up that important 
branch of this subject, which relates t.) overseers. The 
station of this cLiss of men seems not very accurately 
defined. Perhaps it is rather undeiinable. Without 
attempting- to specify, I remark, that like most other 
employments, it derives its respectability, or the want of 
it, more from the moral character of the man by whom 
the duties are performed, than from any thing indispen- 
sably connected with the office. 

An impression rests on many minds, that there is in 
the very duties of an overseer, that which must degrade, 
and, perhaps, demoralize a man. Of course, all men 
will claim to judge for themselves upon this class of 
questions, but I cannot see how the most disagreeable of 
these duties, say that of chastising a servant, may not 
be done as an official act, and from a sense of duty, just 
as the high Sheriff (an officer of undoubted respecta- 
bility) is compelled by virtue of his office, even to hang 
one. So far as the pain and mortification is concerned, 
I (though entirely unaccustomed to all such duties,) 
would prefer to chastise one hundred, rather than hang 
one ; and yet I, nor indeed any other right minded man, 
would shrink from either act, did the interests of society 
demand it. 

That the duties of the Sheriff can be, and often are 
performed by proxy, is nothing to the question, for the 
same is true of these ; if there is degradation in the act, 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 85 

it attaches to the office, whether the act be performed b}^ 
proxy or not, or whether it be performed at all. The 
truth appears to be that the deojradation consists not in 
the act itself, but in the temper in, or with which the 
act is performed ; and that my reasoning is correct is 
obvious, from the fact that many respectable farmers 
choose to be their own overseers, and do all the duties 
pertaining thereto, and yet are considered respectable 
by the best classes among us. 

You may imagine that I am attaching undue impor- 
tance to this apparently abstract question ; a question 
which we might suppose belongs more to works on eti- 
quette and fashion, but I conceive that the subject has a 
practical bearing, which renders it of no little conse- 
quence in a discussion like this ; for could overseers be 
impressed generally with the truth, that if they are de- 
ficient in standing among the better classes of society, it 
is not for any thing in the office or station of an overseer, 
but for immoral or otherwise unbecoming^ conduct, it 
would do much towards elevating this class of men ; a 
result, in my estimation, of sufficient importance to jus- 
tify some organized and systematic effort on the part of 
farmers generally.* 

* Whenever the public becomes sufficiently alive to the true 
interests of the country to engage in the establishment of '• model 
farms,'' either by joint stock companies, or through the aid and 
co-operation of government, that will, doubtless, be " the orga- 
nized effort^' which will famish the right kind of men ; for, in 
addition to such a farm, being the agent for settling a multitude 
of important questions as regards farming and husbandry, and 



86 MELVILLE LETTERS *, OR, THE 

The next point naturally demanding attention, is the 
prerogatives of the overseer. 

The overseer generally regards himself as a kind of 
v'ceroy, and his powers he considers plenipotentiary. 
And, indeed, it seems indispensable that a considerable 
power be delegated to him, or he can plead (and with 
justice too,) the want of it, as an excuse for bad man- 
agement. Such excuses can be elfectually cut ofi' only 
by making his powers equal to his responsibilities. It is 
certainly surrendei'ing much, very much — but still not 
so much as men surrender to attorneys, and other agentS) 
when they confide their estates to them ; to physicians, 
when they confide their lives to them ; not so much by 
thousands as they surrender to teachers, wlien they con- 
fide the characters and destinies of their children, per- 
haps for time, and for eternity, to their hands. 

It is obvious that all agents must be confided in. But, 
in proportion to the importance of the trust, and the 
facilities for mal-practic?, should a principal scrutinize 

also furnishing the best specimens of seeds, animals, etc., etc^ 
such an institution, if properly conducted, must send forth a 
supply of well-informed and practical young men, who wguld 
fill, with ability and success, this important branch of industry. 
Indeed, to express my sense of the importance of this subject, 
viz : — the rearing up a class of intelligent, moral and industrious 
young men for these stations, I am satisfied that should the go- 
vernment ever undertake such an establishment as a "moc?eZ/arm," 
and it should accomplish nothing more than this, it would, in it- 
self, be a fair equivalent for any expense the farm might be to 
the country. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 8*7 

the character of one whom he proposes to employ. And, 
in this case, as in the cases of the lawyer, physician and 
teacher, the means of protection from abuses are pre- 
cisely the same, viz: an instant dissolution of the con- 
nection, as soon :is a discovery is made of intentional 
betrayal of confidence. 

•This leads me to the annunciation of the principles, 
which I conceive should govern a master in the selection 
of an overseer ; although I am aware that this principle 
will be unpopular with some. What you long ago re- 
marked, " that the real interest of the master and the 
- interest of the servant, must always coincide^ and can 
never differ,^'' if not an axiom, is a clearly established 
principle in firming economy. And, as I know, that it 
is not to the interest of the servants that the overseer be 
employed with reference to his making by any, and all 
means, the largest crop, I infer most assuredly that it 
cannot be for the real, however it may be for the appa- 
rent, inteiest of the master, 

I would make the followino; susxirestions : — Find a 
man of truly virtuous principles; industrious, careful and 
prudent ; humane in his disposition, strictly honest and 
truthful ; and when such an one is found, spare no pains 
to attach him permanently to you. If a single man, 
encourage him — by the offer of a permanent situation, 
and any other advantages you may be able — to marry.* 

Give him distinctly to understand what course of con- 

* The reasons for this are of a nature too delicate to comment 
upon, but far too important to be passed over in silence. 



1^ 



88 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

duct, what personal character and principles in himself 
will please, and what will not. Let him know that the 
possession of right principles is an indispensable. The 
very idea of placing, or retaining a man in a situation 
that gives such unbounded control over servants, who is 
himself immoral, or who would corrupt those committed 
to his charge, is too abhorrent to be borne. Such a man 
should not be retained ; no, not a da}^ nor an hour. 

Such a man (as I have above described,) will, one year 
with another, make as good crops, as he ought in justice 
to the servants to make ; and no man ought to be ex- 
pected, nor is it sound economy to make more. If more 
(all things considered) than a fair crop is made, it is like 
all other unfair operations — an evidence of dishonesty 
somewhere ; and will, in the end, work disadvantage 
rather than profit. Overseers, however, when they over- 
work the people for sake of a large crop, often do it with 
the feeling that they are but carrying out the wishes of 
the master; perhaps, in this, they are sometimes not 
mistaken, but a prudent and benevolent master, will not 
neglect to define his position in such matters, with great 
exactness. 

The question may be asked, how and wdiere is a sup- 
ply of such overseers as I have described to be found, 
or their services to be obtained ? I answer, precisely how 
and where ffiithful agents are to be obtained for the 
transaction of other branches of business. There is a 
law of political economy, that is not much, if any less, 
to be relied upon than the laws that govern the material 
universe, viz :— " that swpiihj is ahvays in proportion 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 89 

to demand.^'' If then the question be, by what means 
can a supply of such overseers as I have described he 
obained ? I answer, by creating a demand for them. 
Let it be understood and established, that the demand 
is for a particular description of men, and for no other. 
If, however, immoral, profane and licentious men can 
compete successfully with the virtuous and moral, and, 
perchance, be preferred, on the ground that they can, V>y 
inhumanity to the servants, make a better crop, it need 
not be a matter of astonishment, if a better class of men 
is difficult to find. But let the course I have recom- 
mended be pursued ; let masters give preference to the 
better class of men, and if it does not hold good that 
the supply is in proportion to the demand, then politi- 
cal ECONOMY IS NO SCIENCE. 

Very respectfully, your affectionate brother, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE. 



Melville Cottage^ January 25th^ 18 — . 
Dear William, — 

Having remarked upon all the other topics that I con- 
sidered of importance, I will close my serie? of letters by 
a few observations concerning punishment, bearing in 
mind, however, that my system proceeds upon the prin- 
ciple of prevention, rather than cure. Solomon, when 
he wrote the Book of Proverbs, seemed to regard the 
day when the rod could be laid aside with safety, as in 
the dim and shadowv future. Whether it can be more 



90 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

safely laid aside now than then, is what I will not un- 
dertake to determine ; but there are certainly principles 
in the black race, which, if appealed to with proper mo- 
tives, would save the necessity of much of the punish- 
ment, which by some is regarded as indispensable. 

Should punishment, however, be necessary, I would 
recommend, that like all other duties, it be performed as 
A DUTY, and performed well. 

By being performed as a duty, I mean that it should 
be performed with due dehberation — with no appearance 
of haste, and never when it is attended with the slight- 
est emotion of its beinof asfreeable to the master to in- 
flict it. 

The course I recommend is about as follows : — I would 
satisfy myself that the servant was really deserving of 
punishment, by inquiring particularly and deliberately 
into the circumstances of the case. I would then (in 
private) administer a serious and faithful admonition. 
Should this prove unavailing, I would then (also in pri- 
vate) proceed to administer such a punishment, as in 
my judgment would work the cure of the offender. And 
when I had done, it should be with the feelino- that it 
would not be necessary to punish that person again — at 
least very soon. 

With my children, I reason thus : — If the amount of 
punishment necessary for the entire cure of the offender 
be represented by any quantity, (as x) and I administer 
any part thereof less than the full amount necessary to 
the cure, and then, through false tenderness, desist and 
leave the patient uncured, I look upon myself as having 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 91 

inflicted upon that individual tliat much of unnccossary 
cruelty. And it is my experience, that a servant l.ft in 
that condition, i. e. partially humbled, is in a worse 
condition to be reformed than if he had never been 
undertaken. Duty, kindness, humanity, all, therefore, 
demand that the remedy be applied until the cure is 
affected; otherwise, in all probability, the same painful 
process will be necessary again, and, perhaps, frequently. 
There are masters who have but little trouble, because 
their punishments are of so serious a nature, that a ser- 
vant does not like to incur the risk of receiving one ; 
and when they do receive one, they never feel like risk- 
ing another. I have no doubt that a course something 
like this, results in far less punishment in the end. 

Punishment, to be a reformatory agent, must be made 
to resemble, as nearly as possible, the laws of the mate- 
rial Universe, at least, so far as absolute certainty of 
of sequence is concerned. Man, in proportion to his ig- 
norance and inexperience, is disposed to flatter himself 
with the hope of impunity ; to guard against this spirit 
of self-deception, the punishment should follow with 
absolute certainty, unless there be good and sufiBcient 
reasons for the exercise of clemency. 

There is one injunction of Saint Paul that has always 
struck me with force, " forbear threatening:' The most 
efficient government is that which is, as I just now re- 
marked, the most uniform and certain ; and, I nosv add, 
the most noiseless and quiet. The mighty forces that 
govern the material Universe, are never heard— still 
there is not a moment in which every particle of matter 



92 ■ MELVILLE LETTERS *, OR, THE 

does not feel tbem ; and as human governments approxi- 
mate this absolute perfection, I have an idea thnt they 
will possess this feature ; and Sovereigns, Governors, Pa- 
rents and Masters, will learn the wisdom of that divine 
injunction, " Forbear threatening." 

Having now concluded what I have thought necessary 
to say, I close by observing that I am really obliged that 
you drew me into this correspondence. I have had ideas, 
which before were floating indistinctly in my mind, re- 
duced to a more definite form. And, if in looking over 
these letters, you see where my system is essentially de- 
fective, I trust you will, with the freedom of a brother, 
point out those things ; for, if I am not doing my duty 
to my blacks, and my whole duty^ I know that it is not 
the part of wisdom to shut ones eyes to the truth. I 
not only grant you the privilege, but I request it as a 
thing to which, in some sense, I may say I have a right ; 
for, as you have thrown upon me so large a part of this 
discussion, I think something is due me in return. 
Very respectfully yours, 

JOSEPa L. MELVILLE. 



, th, . 

Dear Brother, — 

Your request and demand is so reasonable, and withal 
accords so entirely with my own feelings, that I shall not 
think of refusing to comply. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 93 

With regard to the matter of your letters, and the 
mode of treating the subject, I say * * * 

* * ^it ifr V; -Vf * -/: -.'.- 

Still I am compelled, in candor and love, to assure you, 
that in my judgment they fall short of a complete sys- 
tem, and I am astonished that a man of your penetra- 
tion has not, long ago, seen that all this concerns the 
slave as a mere physical being ; and, so far as he is possessed 
of an immortal nature, he is, by your otherwise excellent 
system, wholly unp^-ovided for. The only explanation 
that I can imagine why you have not seen this, is that 
it is so general for masters to go no faither than you go ; 
and, indeed, so few go as far, that it is, on the whole, 
less a matter of surprise than at first it might appear. 

It is, then, to that class of duties which your system 
overlooks, that I propose to call your attention, and 
right glad will I be, if I shall succeed as well in setting 
forth the duties of masters to their servants as moral 
beings, as you have set forth his duties to them as phy- 
sical beings. 

Hoping to enter upon this work soon, 
I am, most fraternally, yours, 

WILLIAM R. MELVILLE. 



My Dear Brother Joseph, — 

In discussing the duties of masters to their servants 
as moral beings, I wish, in time, to ass'ire you that it is 
not ray purpose to enter into the region of impossibili- 
ties, like the thousand and one inventors of the perpetual 



94 MELVILLE LETTERS *, OR, THE 

motion, ^vllo have contrived very pretty machines, but 
liable to the small objection that they will not work. I 
shall endeavor to restrict myself to such things as any 
master can do, provided he has a proper sense of his 
duty to his servant, as a being responsible to God for 
his conduct; and, I may add, what I feel assured he will 
be a happier man for doing. 

When, however, I assert that I believe that all the 
duties I have in mind are practicable, I may have views 
which it is necessary that I explain ; and, to make this 
necessary explanation, I now suspend briefly the annun- 
ciation and reasoning upon the duties themselves. The 
views to which I have reference, are the peculiar charac- 
teristics of the black race, or rather that branch of it 
with which we are connected ; unless I have studied them 
improperly, they are possessed of certain peculiarities, 
more or less strongly marked, which, being properly 
understood, may be operated upon to the advantage 
greatly, not only of themselves, but also of their mas- 
ters. 

That there are strong national peculiarities impressed 
upon men, is a truth so well understood, that no man 
who has been to any extent an observer of such things, 
can have reason a moment to doubt. And that branches 
and subdivisions of nations, have a peculiar type of their 
own in many instances, is also well and generally known. 
The American branch of the Anglo-Saxon has its strong- 
ly marked features, so as to exhibit elements of character 
totally unlike any other on the face of the earth. 

The precise question now before us is, — are there any 



DUTIES OP MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 95 

marks of nationality impressed upon the American 
branch of the great African or black race ? And, if so, 
are they of such a nature as to afford just and reasona- 
ble grounds for believing that they can be used as leve- 
rage, to assist in their moral and spiritual elevation ? 

You form.erly complimented me, by admitting that 1 
had fully convinced you that " the first great duty of 
masters is to study the duties of masters, vnth a vievj to 
their 'performance^ Could I now convince you that the 
next great duty of masters is to study the peculiarities 
of the black race, with a view to their moral elevation, I 
should feel that I had not labored in vain. I solicit, then, 
a candid hearing upon this subject, and I shall endeavor 
to bear faithfully in mind the sentiments with which I 
originally set out, viz : — " that the whole of this discus- 
sion is adapted to promote the welfare of servants, the 
happiness of masters, and the peace and harmony of our 
beloved country." 

The first of these peculiarities, which I think affords a 
means of their moral elevation, is that feeling of child- 
like dependance and leaning upon their masters, which 
is well known as one of the elements in their nature, — a 
disposition to confide in his judgment — to look to him 
for protection ; and, when it is to any extent cultivated, 
a feeling of affectionate trust. A colored man, who had 
extensive intercourse with them, and who had had occa- 
sion to study their peculiarities, with no little interest 
remarked, " they are always children^ 

This I consider one of the most characteristic descrip- 
tions that I ever remember to have heard, especially to 
be couched in bo few words. 



96 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

That the feelings of which I now speak are charac- 
teristic of this people, might be made plain by a multi- 
tude of illustrations. The failure of the Abolitionists to 
abduct them, and their return to their masters, in many- 
cases, when abducted, are among the known facts that go 
conclusively to establish the existence of such feelings as 
those to which I refer. Let any who may still be scepti- 
cal upon this point, institute suitable experiments, and 
he may receive abundant evidence of the propriety of 
these remarks. Compare the native or aboriginal in 
habitant of this countr}^, and see how strongly this feel- 
ing is exhibited by such a contrast. An Indian to the 
third or fourth generation, often retains his high toned 
and independent bearing, and his abhorrence of the 
white man, as the possessor of the graves of his forefa- 
thers. But where do we hear of such exhibition of 
feeling on ihe part of our colored people ? It is true 
that such feelings are often manifest in native Africans ; 
but, in the American branch of the great African family, 
I am not aware that such feelings are ever exhibited. 

The ]>oint immediately before us now, is what advan- 
tage does this peculiarity afford for the moral elevation 
of this people ? The answer is plain. Precisely as this 
child-like confidence, so kindly bestowed upon our child- 
ren, affords abundant facilities for their elevation and 
improvement, so does the possession of th 'se qualities 
by servants, those who are " always children,''^ afford 
the same facilities for theii elevation and improvement. 
We advise, and instruct, and admonish our children 
in regard to their moral duties ; let us, in like manner, 
advise, instruct and admonish them. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TllElK SERVANTS. 97 

Jam aware that Solomon lias said, that ''a ser\aiit 
will not be corrected by words," neither will a child, in 
man}^ instances ; but, if the punishment is made the last 
alternative with servants, as it is with children, perhaps 
we should find that they would oftencr be corrected by 
words than we imao-ine. 

Again — that same wise man has said, ''i/e that deli- 
cately bi'mgeth wp his servant from a child shall have iiiiii 
become his son at the len(jth ;" and, it may be imagined, 
that I am recommending a system, the very one that he 
so emphatically condemns — but such is far from my mean- 
ing". Petting and spoiling is the most direct mode of inflict- 
ing unhappiness that I have ever kn(jwn ; I regard it as 
refinement in barl^arity, and I do not remember to have 
seen a pet that was not unhappy, from a child's pet 
kitten, to a petted servant or child ; all, all, are unhappy. 
I only recommend that a pi-inciple so liowerful as this, 
should be employed with wisdom and prudence, for the 
moral elevation of servants, just as the analogous feel- 
ino-s are employed for the elevation of our children. 

The practicability of what I say, the manner of doing- 
it, and the happy consequences resulting, are all most 
forcibly illustrated in multitudes of instances among the 
older taraihes in our Southern country — where there 
are servants, not a few, who would face death itself, in 
the most horrid forms, for the sake of that master whom 
they love as a father, or a brother; servants who, did 
bitter-hearted men ever succeed in exciting a servile war 
among us, would take up arms, and march to the field 
of blood and carnage, under the banners of their masters. 
7 



98 MELVILLE letters; ok, the 

The next element in the character of this peoi)le, to 
which I propose to call attention, is the feeling of self- 
respect. I am aAvare that the annunciation of this topic 
will excite a smile upon many a countenance. Such 
persons, as little as they believe it, entirely misunder- 
stand the true character of the negro. I have not set 
out to jest over this subject, and I shall, therefore, un- 
dertake seriously to show that the feeling of self-respect 
is emphatically impressed upon the character of this peo- 
ple, at least sufficiently so to aflbrd a basis upon which 
to erect an effectual bulwark of moral culture. 

According to the doctrine of forces, a power is estima- 
ted by the resistance it is able to overconie ; or, with a 
known resistance, by the force retained, after having 
overcome. Apply this principle here, and, if I am not 
mistaken, we shall see an upward action decidedly em- 
phatic. 

Besides, in estimating the strength of this feeling, we 
are to bear in mind that it is an emotion almost entirely 
of spontaneous growth. Indeed, not only is it unculti- 
vated, but there are certain blighting influences set in 
action, sometimes intentionall}'', sometimes inadvertently, 
which check its growth most sadly. How seldom is 
there any systematic efforts to infuse into them a sense 
of honor and self-respect ; and, when they manifest the 
existence of such feelings, how often is it inadvertently 
made the subject of merriment. 

Did we rear our children thus, what would we have 
reason to expect of them ? In truth, so far from deny- 
ing the existence of such a feeling, we need rather be 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TJIEIH SERVANTS. !)1J 

amazed that its actino-s are stroiii'- enoiia,-li to exhibit 
itself at all under the discau raging circumstances to 
which it is sometimes exposed. 

Let masters, and all who exert an influence over them, 
adopt a style of speaking to them, and of them, which 
will inspire them with the feeling, that a man may have 
a black skin, (the blacker the better,^-) and be a slave, 
and yet may scorn a low or base action as much as his 
master, or any other man. Let them be admonished 
that base conduct degrades a man or woman, not only 
in the estimation of the whites, but in the estimation of 
their own class ; let them be encouraged to instil such 
sentiments into the minds of their children, and manv a 
severe reprimand, and many an application of the lash, 
may be spared. 

As an instance in point, illustrative of what may thus 
be effected, I have now in mind a woman, whom I 
screened from a public exposure for some petty crime of 
pilfering, and who has ever since manifested such a sense 
of obligation for the favor thus shown, that I am satis- 
fied that I can control her by this feeling of gratitude 
far more successfully than it could be done by the lash ; 
and, on a subsequent occasion, when threatened with 
public punishment, she came to me, and falling upon her 
knees, offered to submit to any infliction I might think 
proper, if I would only screen her from public exposure 
and disgrace. 

* The anecdote of the old woman, who boasted that in her 
neighborhood they were " all black" is a fine illustration of this 
feeling. 



100 MELVILLE letters; OR, THE 

The next great characteristic of this people, and tliai 
which, more than any other, lays the foundation for their 
moral elevation, is the religious element that so strongly 
distinguishes them. There is no need of reasoning to 
prove the existence of this sentiment. The man who 
doubts or denies on this point, avows his entire udmc- 
quaintance with the psychological character of this peo- 

Their religion partakes not much of forms and cere- 
monies — it is an engagement of their feehngs. A preacher 
who throws into his discourses a large proportion of im- 
passioned language, and especially of real feeling, can 
scarcely fail to be their 'preacher' ; indeed, they are njore 
in danger of being carried into excesses by this, than by 
almost any other cause. 

They are eminently a religious peo]:)le — they love re- 
ligion, and it is to them often the greatest, even some- 
times their only, enjoyment. The negro is a great singer, 
and he sings religious songs in preference to any others ; 
indeed, unless now and then a comic song, often, as I 
suspect, falsely attributed to them, they sing but few 
others. They sing at their work, at their homes, on the 
highway, and in the streets ; and, in the large majority 
of cases, their songs have a decidedly rehgious charac- 
ter. How common to see an old woman at her work, 
" lining ouf a hymn to herself, and then singing it in 
a spirit of rapt abstraction fi'om earth and all earthly 
things. Many of them, when very angry, have prudence, 
if not piety enough, to go alone, and sing some spiritual 
song, not always, it is admitted, in a very spiritual state 



DUTIES OF MASTER^; TO THEIR SERVANTS. 101 

of mind ; but .still, iar more C()mmeiKlal.)lo than, like 
their superiors, (?).to give vent to their atigry feelings in 
a tori'ent of bitter in\'ective. 

There is no doubt, tliat in many instances, this senti- 
ment or emotion is nothing more than mere exliihiration 
of feeling, induced by sympathy of a hirgc concourse, 
or sympathy of song, of which they are so excessively 
fond, or some other incidental circumstance. In some 
cases, when combined with great self-esteem and su])er- 
stition, it becomes an apt resemblance of some of the 
rhapsodies of the Baron Von Sweidenbourg/' 13ut, in 
other instances, we find points of experience, with no 
pretensions to the marvellons, but a pure rapture of re- 
ligious feeling, not unlike that of the Apostle, when he 
found it difficult to decide wdiether he was in or out of 
the body. 

But not to pursue this theme, enough has been said 
to show, 1st : — that it is one of the most strongly marked 
elements in their character, and from their evident ten- 
dency to run into the marvellous, and even superstition 
in its worst forms, it is most obviously an important part 
of a master's duty, to h-ave this sentiment cultivated with 
care and assiduity. 

* Says an old woman, whom I attempted to reason out 
of her views, in reference to such matters as her " travels,^' " Oh, 
sir, you hav'nt got along that far yet in experience ;" and this 
was said "with so sincere and earnest expression of countenance, 
as to set one involuntarily upon contriving a hypothesis, by 
which the old woman's experience could be reconciled with Scrip- 
ture. 



102 MELVILLE LETTEU8 ; OH, THE 

I Mill aware that tins vci-y Icature of tlieir character, — 
whidi I am attemptino- lo sliow may be made one of 
tlie most efficient agents in the moral elevation of the 
blacks — is regarded by many masters as among their 
most objectionable features. The remark is often made, 
and carelessly, sometimes by religious masters, that reli- 
gious servants are less useful and reliable than those of 
the opposite character. When such remarks are made, 
as an expression of hostility to religion itself, we under- 
stand ))erfectly how to regard them : but as they are 
sometimes made by persons whom we could not imagine 
capable of such feelings, then for religion's own sake, if 
not for the sake of religious servants^ such remarks 
ought to be explained. The explanation, I imagine, 
would be, that by "rehgious servants," are meant 
" church members ;" and, by irreligious servants, such as 
are not so — no trifle of a difterence in an age like this. 

As the remark, then, is made in reference merely to 
hy{>ocritical p)rofessors of rehgion, it is sufficient to say, 
in reply, that unless we could make a fairer showing 
among ourselves, wdio are so much better instructed, and 
surrounded with far better religious influences, we are 
scarcely to be regarded as generous, in making sucli 
sweeping denunciations against tlie whole body of '• re- 
ligious servants'''' — a people who have not a tithe of tlie 
religious advantages we enjoy. 

And are religious masters and mistresses quite sure, 
that many of the little peccadilloes in religion, practised 
by their servants, are not copied from themselves. If a 
"religious" (?) mistress drills her house-maid or fiile-de- 



J3UTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIli SERVANTS. 1 03 

chambre, to answer ui tlic door " not at home,'''' when she 
merely means not prepared to receive company, is she 
not demanding too much of that uncultivated servant, 
to expect that she shall be able to make such nice dis- 
tinctions, and, like her mistress and Sh' Iludibras, " to 
sjjlit a hair Hioixt north arid north-ivest side.'''' 

Having thus, I confess, rather elaborately, I hope not 
tediously, set forth my views, in reference to those fea- 
tures of character, upon which I would mostly rely, in 
attempting the moral elevation of this people, I will 
bring this letter to a close, by remarking, that properly 
to appreciate the advantages thus placed in our hands, 
let us imagine them possessed not of these, but of dif- 
ferent, and, perhaps, of opposite sentiments. Suppose 
them to hand down, from generation to generation, the 
sense of the wrong inflicted upon them in their being 
brought to this country, then, indeed, we should be laid 
under almost insuperable difliculties, in attempting their 
improvement ; or, suppose them not possessed of that 
self-respect, amounting often to real pride of character, 
but of its opposite, that leaden nature that marks some 
of the down-trodden and miserable beings of the old 
world. Again — suppose, where we find the negro pos- 
sessed of hio'h relififious sentiments, we found him the 
victim of some form of irreligion or wild idolatry, bloody 
and cruel, which he cherishes deep within the centre of 
his affections, as a thing most sacred and dear. I say, in 
view of such suppositions as these, we must see the very 
sreat advantages these sentiments and principles afford, 
in the effort to elevate them morally and religiously, i 



104 MELVILLE LETTEKS ; OK, THE 

shall, in iny next, enter iiijon the main point 1 have in 
view, viz : — the system I would recommend for the reli- 
gious weltare of the slave population in the South. 
Your al^ectionate brother, 

WILLIAM R. MELVILLE. 



-, 18—. 



My Very Dear Brother, — 

In pursuance of the design expressed in my last, I now 
address you upon those duties that masters owe their 
servants as moral beings ; beings, with themselves, ac- 
countable to a righteous and holy God ; and who must, 
ere long, stand before that God, not then in the relation 
of master and servant, but upon the same broad plat- 
form — where the king and the beggar, the rich man and 
Lazarus, the great men and the chief captains, and the 
mighty men, must all stand. I approach this subject, 
not as one of trifling moment, but as one involving vast, 
even infinite consequences. I am aware, too, my dear 
brother, that there are circumstances that are well adapt- 
ed to lead you to improper conclusions upon this subject, 
and cause you to rest satisfied in what you are doing, 
supposing that this is your duty, even your whole duty. 
The contentment and apparent happiness of your 
people, leads naturally to a conclusion hke this. In see- 
ing their smiling countenances, their good condition, their 
merry laugh, you will naturally feel, that if you are not 
doing your duty, who is ? Indeed, a sentiment like this 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 105 

is expressed in oik^ of your letters, viz : — " there is scarce- 
ly one who does not laui>'h more, and sigh less, than you 
yourself do." Let nie remind you, dear brother, that 
all this only proves that one great class of duties is well 
performed ; but, do they, in all that they express of con- 
tentment, have any just conceptions of their relations to 
God ? I know that you can look at many a farm, and 
see how far short masters of your acquaintance fall of 
doing what you do. But does this, I again ask, prove 
any thing more, than that duties to them, as physical 
beings, are properly performed ? 

But need I remind you that the body, the mere phy- 
sical being, is neither all of the man, nor even the more 
important part. How often have I heard you express 
your admiration of that fine answ^er of §ocrates to his 
friends, when asked " how he icould he ^wnec/," in which 
he assured them that the body was not the man, but the 
immortal and undying principle within, was that which 
constituted him a man. 

Is the negro less than a man ? or his soul less wortliy 
our regard ? The Son of God placed more value upon 
a soul, a single soul, than upon this earth, with all its 
wealth and pomp ; and yet, how strangely, do we over- 
look a thing of such infinite moment. I would say 
more, but my heart is full, when I contemplate the 
thought that there are kind masters, generous and in- 
dulgent men, who, from this strange oversight, neglect 
the souls of their most faithful and devoted servants; — 
servants who love them as well almost as their own 
lives ; — servants who would rise with cheerfulness, to 



106 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

serve thcin, at tlie iiiiflni,u;lit liour ; — servants who, if 
their masters were sick, would give no sleej) to their 
eyes, nor shunber to their eyelids, as long as they could 
afford the smallest assistance ; — servants who would start, 
at a moment's warning, and undertake any thing, how- 
ever perilous, even to the risk of life itself, to serve the 
master that they love — and who, yet, are compelled to 
feel, " my master is kind and good ;" he does all for his 
people that is possible to make them happy in this 
world ; but, ah ! my master cares not for our poor souls. 

Let them be properly instructed, and, more than all, 
let masters convince them that their matrimonial alli- 
ances are, and will be, respected, in the matter of buying 
and selling ; and, I am well persuaded, that the tone of 
their own feelings will be materially changed upon this 
subject. Of all the wrongs attributed to masters, and 
they are charged with many, I know of none more re- 
volting to my own mind, and, withal, fraught with more 
disastrous consequences, than this of recklessly separa- 
ting husband and wife. As much as I feel at seeing 
children and parents separated, (and such scenes are 
truly heart-rending,) I still feel that there is not such 
violence done to the better feelings of the heart ; and, 
withal, the consequences are incomparably less demoi'al- 
izing than those resulting from the separation of hus- 
bands from their wives. 

To use the language of a distinguished and honored 
friend upon this subject, " these (marriage and the 
Sabbath) are Gou's two great institutions, descend- 
ed FROM Paradise ;" and, I w ould add, in the name of 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TIIKIK SKIIVA NTS. 1 07 

humanity, let us secure tliese two Mcssin^-s, ;it least, u> 
the slave population of the South. 

I am aware that masters feel en?*y u|h»ii ihis siihjrct, 
because the blacks themselves regard it as a matter of so 
little moment; but, it is to be borne in mind, that they 
are an uncultivated people, and if their views are lax, 
the more the pity ; we, however, wlio know the teach- 
ings of heaven upon this subject, and the direful conse- 
quences resulting from loose principles here, should 
make it our conscientious endeavor to give them right 
views in regard to it. 

How easy for any intelligent master to set this thing 
in its ti'ue light before them, in some meeting for reli- 
gious worship ; indeed, if he did no more than to re[id 
to them those passages of Scripture referring to the sub- 
ject, which he could find at an-y time by the help of 
a concordance and reference Bible, or any intelligent 
minister could furnish him with — I say, if he did no 
more than read these, it would, of itself, bring the sub- 
ject before them in a most impressive manner. But if, 
in addition to the reading, he should either attempt, or 
procure a minister, to impress them with the obligations 
they are under, to obey the divine teachings, we might 
reasonably expect the best of consequences. Instances 
where this has been done have come under my notice, 
and the results have been precisely as I have stated, 
viz : — an increased conscientiousness upon the subject, 
and an entire change in their conduct. 

It is not a mark of an able logician to offer more than 
a sufficient reason for any thing, and I feel well satisfied 



108 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

that the treatment their matriiiionial relations liave receiv- 
ed, is quite enough to account tor any seeming indifterence 
they may manifest upon the su1)ject. Let full and suffi- 
cient assurances be alibrded by masters, that tlieir matri- 
monial vows will be respected, and then it will be full 
time enough to lay the blame of these immoralities at 
their (the servants) door. 

Ha\"ing instructed them properly in the nature of 
marriage, and thereby grouped them into families, I 
would then j)roceed to operate upon them, both indi- 
vidually and in masses, by means of the family compact. 

In regard to this, as a moral agent, I would ren^arki 
let any man contemplate the intiuence of the family upon 
himself — its endearments, its restraints, its thousands of 
indescribable enjoyments — and does he not feel that it is 
an agency second almost to none, in the moral elevation 
and improvement of the human race. Fools and wits 
are sometimes found, who can make such things as mar- 
riage and THE FAMILY, the butt of their ridicule ; but 
all good and wise men regard them as forming the 
foundation upon which the virtue and morality of a peo- 
ple must ever be expected to stand. 

I consider the grouping of them into families as so 
important, that I should not rest satisfied until I found 
every individual identified in whole, or in part, with some 
ftimily. This, perhaps, could conveniently be done upon 
that most natui-al of all principles, relationship, either 
by affinity or consanguinity. 

Once properly grouped into families, I would proceed 
by appealing to the best principles of which I found 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TIIKIH SKKVANTS. 1 1)9 

them possessed, or with wliicli I found mvsclf ahlc tu 
inspire them, to attempt their elevation, hv eslahlisirm^^r 
among them a virtuous public sentimi'iit. \\)\\ aif awan- 
that this thing, ^;w6//'c sentiment^ is at least llic piinciph! 
upon which one man acquires and maintains an as- 
cendancy over masses of his fellow men, large or small ; 
and, whether it be a family of servants, a family of child- 
ren, or a nation, no man is able to maintain an ascend- 
ancy over the sul)jects of government any longer than 
public sentiment is on his side. Let a master awaken 
this feehng in his people, and let that sentiment s}»oak 
out, on the side of virtue, good order, and piety. J.et 
parents be encouraged to instil these principles into their 
children ; and that people, even without the aid of lite- 
rature, will rapidly become a virtuous and moral jieople. 
One of the most difRcult questions connected with this 
whole inquiry, here suggests itself; and, as it ought to 
be fairly met somewhere, I will introduce it in this 
place, as appropriate, perhaps, as as any other. It is 
the question of their being allowed to have companions 
upon plantations distinct tVom their own. You have 
expressed yourself as convinced of the extensive evils 
resulting from their being permitted to roam at large, 
(when not engaged in the duties of their station.) This 
question, however, did not properly come under conside- 
ration in your letters ; and I now express my approba- 
tion of the general tenor of your thoughts and senti- 
ments under this head ; — and, as far as I am prepared 
to give an opinion, I am free to say, that so much am I 
convinced of the injurious consequences of roaming at 



110 MELVILLE letters; OH, TJIE 

lari,^e, at night, on Sabbaths, and on holidays, tliat I 
would not hesitate to apply these principles to the ques- 
tion in hand. My experience is, that human nature, in 
its fallen condition, is tar more apt to conceive of, or em- 
brace evil, than good ; — and all my observations upon 
human beings, in masses, go to convince me, that un- 
less some powerful counteracting agency is in operation 
to prevent, all assemblages are more apt to produce evil 
than good ; to cause men to become immoral rather than 
virtuous. For reasons like these, I would never consent to 
allow my children to rove at will, to visit promiscuously, 
and where they chose ;— and, acting upon the principle 
of my old black friend, " they are always children,'^ I 
would recommend the same concerning servants ; I would 
advise a master to sell, or buy, until the thing is set 
right ; and, when once set right, I would leave no means 
untried to keep it so. It would, I confess, be attended 
with great inconvenience, at first ; but, on the whole, 
with fiir less than the opposite custom. One feature of 
this roving system, which convinces me that it must be 
exceedingly demoralizing, is, that it is carried on to such 
an extent on the Lord's day. A Sabbath-breaking peo- 
ple, just as a licentious j^eople, must become increasingly 
immoral ; and the statistics of crime show this (Sabbath 
breaking) to be a parent vice, and its brood is " le- 
gion." I would, for this reason, guard this point, as 
one of the strong-holds of my religious influence over 
them. 

I have said that they are eminently a I'eligious peo- 
ple, still they need a world of religious instruction, 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TJIKIR SKKVANTS. 1 1 1 

otherwise this veiy element serves to engender suporsti- 
stion and a multitudinous train of evils, on the same 
principle that a fruitful soil rears a luxuriant croj) of rank 
and noxious weeds, when left uncultivated. An<l li.n- I 
take the liberty to remark, that, in my conce})tion, it is 
not common honesty, however it may bear the sem- 
blance of extraordinary piety, for masters to take the 
proceeds of the labor of these poor blacks, to send the 
gospel to the far distant heathen, wdien, as Itandolph, 
of Roanoke, said, " the Greeks are at the door ;" when 
there is, perhaps, not a missionary, or religious teacher, 
provided for the instruction of these poor slaves. 

Not that I would for a moment be understood that 
the former should not be done — and done, too, with 
vastly more of zeal and energy than it ever has been ; 
but I mean to assert, as the Scriptures say — '' These 
ought ye to have done, and not leave the other undone." 

I say again, and with emphasis, that it may procure 
for masters the reputation of most amazing benevolence, 
but that it is " rendering to servants that which is just 
and equal^'' I am far from beheving. The divinely ap- 
pointed rule is emphatic — " The husbandman that labor- 
eth must be the first partaker," and " Thou shalt not 
muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn," — a rule that 
commends itself to the common sense and common 
feehngs of mankind ; and, yet, a rule concerning which 
the Apostle felt the necessity of praying at the annun- 
ciation of it—" The Lord give the understanding ;" a 
prayer that I feel the necessity of being offered, even on 
behalf of my excellent brother, and many other excel- 



112 MKLVlLLh: letters; OK THE 

lent and kiiid-lioarted masters, wlio strang-ely overlook 
the duty of supplying their servants with proper reli- 
gious instruction. 

Yes, my brotlier, from my soul, I pray — " The Lord 
give thee (and all like thee) understanding," on this truly 
important point. 

As regards the amount and kind of religious instruc- 
tion, of course that will come under the decision of the 
master, according to Lis judgment of tlie necessities of 
his people — a judgment enlightened, however, by the 
word of God. I feul at liberty to make a remark here, 
in regard to the whole supply of rehgious instruction in 
many parts of the country, especially out of the towns. 

The system of "• once a month" preaching, and three 
Sabbaths of neglei-t, which originated in the sparseness 
of the population, and the fewness of ministers in the 
early settlement of the country, it is to be feared, is be- 
coming entailed upon us, as a settled pohc3\ Indeed, I 
believe there are settlements of peo[)le who would con- 
sider it unjust and unwarrantable for a minister to in- 
flict more than one meeting upon them each month. Let 
such vi'hite persons slumber on, if they will pertinaciously 
refuse to understand that the command is, '' six days 
shalt thou labor, but the seventh is the Sabbath ;" but, I 
unhesitatingly assert, that preaching, " once a month," is 
not enough for our colored population. Under this sys- 
tem, these poor creatures are starving for the bread of 
life, at the very time that they are professedly supplied. 
I am aware that their own conduct has a tendency to 
discourage many a well-meaning master, who, w^hen he 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TlIKIll SERVANTS. 113 

has made the very best arrangement for tliem, of which 
the circumstances will admit, iinds tliat he has been lite- 
rally casting pearls before swine. They trample their 
reh'gious privileges under their feet. What, then ! Are 
they to be abandoned to perdition, because they did not 
sho^v a proper estimate for gospel privileges, when those 
privileges were offered them ? Where is the people that 
has? 

Again — upon the doctrine of my old friend, " they 
remain children,^^ I would remark, that we constrain our 
children to attend the house of God for purposes of reli- 
gious worship, and why not them ? 

To continue the remark, in regard to the amount and 
kind of religious instruction, I feel that nearly all that 
subject has yet to be studied ; experiments are being 
made, and with the happiest results ; and the more the 
subjt^ct is discussed, the more will the light shine into 
the minds of masters. 

This much we may venture with safety to affirm, that 
the rehgious instruction, which is to benefit the black 
man, must be adapted to his character, condition, and 
style of thinking ; — that religious instruction, to be bene- 
ficial, must be understood, is a mere truism ; and, yet, 
how strangely is this simple trutii overlooked, in the at- 
tempts to communicate religious instruction to the ne- 
groes. How much is there, of what is called pi'eaching, 
that is entirely beyond their capacity to understand ? A\\ 
attempts to instruct them should be simple and easy of 
comprehension ; but, in this remark, my allusion is more 
to language than to matter. Of course, no minister. 
8 



114 MELVILLE letters; OK, THE 

who is ill his sober senses, would think of imolving these 
simple creatures in the perplexing questions of polemical 
theology. The ideas may and should be such as are 
proper to be presented to another assembly of moderate- 
ly informed persons, viz : — the great cardinal doctrines 
of Christianity, and the plain duties naturally deducible 
from these doctrines ; the words, however, should be 
such as they can readily comprehend. 

Observe, I say, such as they " can comiwehend^'' and 
in this I by no means wish to be understood to mean 
such as ^^tliey user I have seen a very intelligent min- 
ister fail utterly to interest a congregation of blacks, and 
even excite disgust, by attempting to speak to them in 
what is called "negro language." Negroes may use 
such w^ords as " mas&cC and " hiickra^'' but, at the same 
time, they are shrewd enough to know that a white 
man ought to speak better, even though it be in appa- 
rent condescension to them ; and, with regard to childish 
or frivolous thoughts, congregations of sensible negroes 
can no more be interested in such things than you or I. 

Let masters, then, spurn the idea, that any thing that 
can, by a stretch of liberality, be called preaching, will 
do for negroes, or that young and inexperienced preach- 
ers can be employed to preach to them, by way of leai-n- 
ing to preach ; — such sentiments violate the very first 
dictates of common sense ; for, does not common sense 
sav, that if a doctrine or duty is to be made intelligible 
to an obscure intellect, the light thrown upon that doc- 
trine, or duty should be clearer and stronger, in pro- 
portion to the darkness of the mind into which such 



DUTIES OF MASTRUS TO TIIHIU, KHRVANTS. I IT, 

truth is to be conveyed ? Get the best ; it may, like tlio 
qiiaker's coat, cost higher, but then it will last. Some 
tilings I might get, because of cheapness ; but otluM-s, 
such as garden seeds, physic, teaching and preaching, I 
must have good, or not at all. 

Concerning their church relations, it is unquestionably 
better for them to stand connected with wliite cono-rc'-a- 
tions, where they can be under the supervision and tui- 
tion of those better informed than themselves. Many 
of them can be rendered highly efficient as " tvatchmen,'" 
or " leaders ;" but it is exceedingly rare to find a colored 
man who can, for a length of time, maintain his position 
as a pastor ; and, moreover, the instructions of such a 
man are not adequate to their wants ; they need the 
plainest and most wholesome instruction, combined with 
a fair proportion of fervent exhortation. Their own 
preachers are apt, in the absence of an ability to teach, 
to seek to inflame them by the most impassioned ap- 
peals, without a proper substratum of wholesome doc- 
trine, upon which to predicate such exhortations. 

Having thus expressed my views, as to the general 
character and style of the religious instruction that, in 
my judgment, they need — should have ; (and, if I have 
not made an egregious blunder, in understanding both 
the Scriptures and common sense, they have a right 
TO ;) I shall proceed to develope a system, by which 
their religious instruction might be carried on, from 
their very earliest years. Negro children are capable of 
receiving much religious instruction, even without the 
aid of books, except a single copy, for the use of the 



116 MELVILLE letters; OR, THE 

teacher, of wliatever book may be employed. All tliat 
is requisite, is, that suitable pains be taken to instruct 
them. The experiment to teach them orally, would 
convince any one of their capacity to receive instruction 
in that manner. As an illustration, I will state the re- 
sult of an experiment in my own family, and the man- 
ner of conducting that experiment. Having, at a parti- 
cular time, but a single copy of a certain catechism, 
which I wished to teach to the children of my femily, 
consisting of several little girls, from eight to twelve 
years of age, I was laid under the necessity of instruct- 
ing them orally. A little servant girl, about the average 
age of the children, was required to be present, and to 
take part in the exercises ; and, so far as could be per- 
ceived, there was no material difference, if any, between 
the progress of the white children over the black one. 

As the manner of conducting the experiment might 
be of interest, I will give it somewhat in detail. Having 
this class before me, and perfect silence and attention 
being secured, I commenced by pronouncing dehberately, 
and with the utmost distinctness, the first question, and 
its answer, which (i. e. the answer) I required them to 
repeat in concert, some three or four times, or until it 
was thoroughly memorized. I then proceeded to the 
next question and answer, in the same manner, until it 
also was memorized; I then repeated the two questions 
and answers together, until they were able to recite both 
answers together. In this manner, I proceeded through 
a short lesson, repeating the entire series as often as I 
added one. At the next recitation, the first lesson was 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TllElli SERVANTS. 11 V 

reviewed (lest it might have been forgotten) before a 
new lesson was entered upon, and so on through tlie 
entire book. When the lesson is memorized, an impor- 
tant and very agreeable exercise is, to ask such simple 
questions, as would evince the extent to which it is un- 
derstood, or to afford a suitable vehicle for communi- 
cating proper views ; otherwise the}^ may be satisfied 
merely to repeat the words, without a proper comprehen- 
sion of their import. 

Not only the Catechism, but selections from the Scrip- 
tures — as the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, 
the Sermon on the Mount, and other Discourses of our 
Lord, together with Hymns, short religious narratives, 
.&c., — might, in this manner, be communicated to them 
from week to week, in an easy and agreeable manner, 
proviledany one '^ cared for their souls ;''"' which in- 
struction would, in the course of the year, amount to a 
considerable stock of religious knowledge, and which 
might, in after life, become a perfect treasure to those 
uncultivated children. 

As an illustration of what principles might be thus 
impressed upon their minds, let us suppose the story of 
Hagar in the wilderness to be taught, and the single 
sentiment, " Thou, God^ seest wze,". to be indelibly im- 
pressed upon the minds of the whole class, or even a 
single member, — who I ask, can estimate the effects of 
that one truth, in deterring from ci-imo, and impelling to 
virtue, through all future life i 

I am satisfied that any thing like a tair experiment, 
(by which I mean this, or any other tolerably good plan, 



118 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

persisted in,) will convince any one of the following 
truths : — 

First. That short lessons, orally communicated, and 
conducted in a sprightly and animated manner, with 
frequent questions, to keep up attention, are not only 
very profitable, but also may be made very agreeable 
and attractive to children, both white and black. 

Secondly. That black children learn, in this manner, 
with but little, if any, less ease and facility than whites. 

One portion of this system, that will commend it 
greatly to the minds of many, consists in the fact, that 
the instruction can, to a considerable extent, be commu- 
nicated by our own children, and, in many instances, 
with as much or more success, than by ourselves. An in- 
telligent little miss, of fourteen or sixteen, by the aid of 
a few attractive ways, may gather around her the black 
children, on a farm, every Sunday afternoon ; — and thus, 
whilst really benefiting herself, perhaps, as much or more 
than any one else, by the mental and spiritual exercise 
necessary to the work, may be imparting knowledge 
which, through divine grace, may, in after life, result 
the salvation of many of her youthful flock.* 

One of the happy results of such a work as this, 
which requires a distinct notice, is the kind feelings en- 

* 1 am aware that some of our young misses, of sixteen or 
fourteen, or even of twelve, would turn up their pretty little noses 
at such a suggestion ; but I know, too, that such delicately raised 
young ones, have the same scorn of any other thing useful ; but, 
that they are adding to their respectability b}^ feelings like tliese, 
1 think there is much reason to doubt. 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 119 

gendered, not only between the children, black and 
white, but also between the entire family, black and 
white. 

In this, also, I speak from experience, — for well do I 
remember, when more than twenty years ago, that I, 
then a youth, in my native town, undertook and con- 
ducted, for a length of time, a Sabbath school, of some 
sixty or seventy colored children, with precisely such 
results as I have mentioned, viz : — endearing to myself 
not only the children, but their parents, and the black 
population generally. 

Before concluding this description, I beg leave to re- 
mark, that any one who chooses to try an experiment 
like this, will soon discover that a class of fifty, or even 
a hundred, can be taught with nearly the same facility 
as a class of ten or twenty ; all that is requisite being 
that perfect order be preserved, and that the children 
answer together, and in concert, — a thing they learn in a 
A^ few lessons, and of which they soon become fond. I 
^have found myself greatly assisted by the presence and 
^-operation of two or three judicious old men, to assist 
i-'^eeping order. I would further suggest, that when a 
suitable room can be provided, the older servants, espe- 
cially parents, should be induced to attend ; they would, 
thereby, be spectators, and hearing and understanding 
the subjects upon which the children are instructed on 
the Sabbath, would be able to co-operate in endeavoring 
to impress these lessons upon them during the week. 
That a suitable room can always be found upon a well 
regulated farm, I am assured, by a remark of yours in 



120 MELVILLE LETTERS ; OR, THE 

reference to tlie dining room of your friend and neigh- 
bor, Mr. M , viz : — that the dining room, on the 

farm of Mr. M , served also as a chapel. Where 

a more suitable place could not be found, this would be 
admirable ; and it would not be the first time I have 
known a " tavern'''' used for such purposes, or a tavern 
bell used to call people to the worship of God. This, 
in addition to its use as a place of assemblage, on the 
Lord's day, might serve a valuable purpose as a place 
for a kind of family worship. There is, on almost every 
farm, one or more religious men, ^vho might get the 
people together, and sing and pray, and thus, by a so- 
lemn act of religious w^orship, commend themselves to 
the protection of the Almighty during the hours of re- 
pose. This, in conjunction with the practice of requiring 
all lights to be out at nine o'clock, would do much towards 
correcting the vicious habit of many blacks, in keeping 
late hours, and, thereby, disqualifying themselves for the 
labors of the ensuing day. Masters are, doubtless, to 
blame for some of this practice of keeping late hours, 
when the servants are employed about feeding, and 
other matters of a similar character, until eight or nine 
o'clock, leaving little or no time for such things as be- 
long to the comfort of the servants themselves. 

I would further urge, upon their parents, the necessity 
of teaching and training them regularly to kneel and 
repeat the Lord's Prayer, or some other short and ap- 
]n'opriate address to the throne of grace. 

A modification of this system might answer for the 
larger children, and connected with singing, prayer, and 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 121 

mutual exhortation, would serve well even for the adults. 
The propriety of adapting it to the adults will appear, 
when we consider their remarkable fondness for religious 
songs, already referred to, and bear in mind how very 
slender is their stock of such songs. This accounts for 
their singing choruses with so much spirit, they beino-, 
comparatively, easy to memorize. 

Considering, then, the very small amount of trouble 
or expense necessary to instruct these poor creatures ; — 
that it can be done, so far as the younger children are 
concerned, by one's own children, and that, too, no less 
to the benefit of the white than the black child ; — I can- 
not see how any master, who has the least sense of the 
value of a religious education to his own children, can 
satisfy himself, in neglecting some such means for train- 
ing his young servants. Indeed, I am persuaded, that 
if a man were destitute of every feeling of benevolence, 
or any just sense of his moral obligations to his ser- 
vants, an enlightened self-interest would afford abundant 
grounds why he should undertake some such means for 
the moral elevation of his people. He might do it, even 
in self-defence, if for no other reason. The petty vices 
and immoralities of the young, white or black, are no 
small sources of vexation and annoyance, and constitute 
a considerable drawback from the sum total of happi- 
ness in the family. Now, on the supposition, that by 
spending from one to two hours each Sabbath after- 
noon, in the manner described, we succeed in checking 
these sources of vexation one half or one-third, it is 
plainly a profitable expenditure of time, if no other re- 



122 MELVILLE letters; or, the 

suits did ever accrue. But is that supposition at all 
within the range of reasonable probability? The en- 
trance of God's word givetli light, is a divine sentiment, 
the truth of which has been attested by thousands ; and 
truths thus engraven upon the young mind, whether 
through the agency of the Scriptures, the Catechism, 
Hymns, or Religious Narrative, may be as bread cast 
upon the water, which shall be gathered after many 
days. 

Many of these operations, you will perceive, suppose 
not only a considerable amount of attention from the 
master, but also the visits and co-operation of a minis- 
ter. As an incentive to the former, viz., the master's 
attention, I will avail myself of one of your own re- 
remarks, viz : — " That a man's servants ivill not long 
continue to he his, unless he is willing, in some serise, 
also to belong to them ;" and it is further perfectly ob- 
vious, that if such operations are to be carried on suc- 
cessfully, a minister ought to be provided ; and, upon 
the broad principle that the laborer is to be a partaker 
of the fruits, and as masters partake so largely of their 
carnal things, viz., the fruits of their industry, it is ob- 
viously a dictate of humanity, not to say of religion, to 
repay them with spiritual things. What master, pos- 
sessing a spark of humanity, would refuse to pay, out of 
the proceeds of the labor of his servants, a reasonable 
amount for religious instruction, to be bestowed upon 
those servants ? Some non-professors would make many 
of our church members blush crimson, by their example 
in this matter. I have (at this moment) in mind a gen- 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 123 

tleman, who, I do not suppose, recognizes himself, or is 
recognized by others, as a converted man ; but it has 
fallen to my lot to know of his liberality in this matter 
on several occasions, to ministers, whose preaching he 
himself seldom or never hears. One of them, T am sure, 
he never does hear himself; and yet, because his blacks 
have it in their power to hear him, the master volun- 
tarily contributes to the support of their minister. 



And now, my dear beloved brother, allow me, in a 
few words, to impress the importance of these duties 
upon you. The master's station is one of responsibility. 
I have no doubts, as I before remarked, concerning the 
moral rectitude of slaveholding ; but I have very serious 
doubts of many masters being able to make a good ac- 
count of the manner in which they have discharged their 
duties to their slaves. 

Our laws, my dear brother, place a barrier in the way 
of the negro learning to read, and thus being able to 
learn the nature of his moral and religious obligations, 
by studying for himself the inspired volume. You have 
accepted and continue the ownership of these slaves, 
knowing these facts, and acceding to these conditions. 
You, and every other right-minded man, would scorn 
the absurd position, that they are not moral agents like 
others ; we are all assured that they have moral and re- 
ligious duties, growing out of their relations to each 



12-1 MELVILLE letters; OR, THE 

other and their Creator, just as other men, and women, 
and children. 

Now we know of no other modes of instruction than 
oral and written ; the laws forbid the latter ; you, and 
all law-abiding" men, sympathize with the law in this 
respect, just so long as it is law ; the conclusion then is, 
if they are to be instructed, it must be done orally. If 
they are ever to come to a knowledge of the great truths 
of religion, so as to be savingly benefited thereby, it 
must be by being instructed orally. 

Again — if they are to be instructed at all, it must be 
of your procuring. Who will take upon himself the 
responsibility of teaching your servants, and who would 
you allow to do it, unless by your consent previously 
obtained ? You have then a responsibility to these peo- 
ple, which, as it is or is not discharged, will result in 
incalculable good or evil to them, and may I not say to 
yourself also ; and, bear in mind, my brother, that, in 
addition to all the weighty considerations which might 
be adduced in favor of oral instruction, this is the crown- 
ing one, " It is God's oiV7i ajiiiointmenty Let it be 
borne in mind, that God has ordained, by preaching, to 
save them that believe. And, furthermore, let it be well 
remembered, that the wisdom of this arrangement has 
been attested in all time ; in that it has been the great, 
almost the sole agency, in spreading the triumphs of 
Christianity, and filling heaven with that innumerable 
multitude, which no man can number, out of jdl nations, 
and kindreds, and tongues. 

I trust that fraternjil solicitude will not betray me into 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR SERVANTS. 125 

saying too much, or speaking too plainly ; but, as liio 
subject is now before our minds in its stroiiffst form 
and as this correspondence is about to close, I beg leave 
to say, what I do say, out of the fullness of a brother's 
loving heart. God only knows the anxiety I feel on 
account of many masters in regard to this matter. The 
institution is upon us, and we must make the best use 
of the circumstances. I, therefore, beg you, as vou 
value the immortal soul of your servant, or yourself, be 
not, by any remissness in these duties, accessory to their 
eternal ruin. 

Remember, dear brother, that " the fashion of this 
world passeth away^ The time is short, when the rela- 
tions of men must all be changed ; when men must stand 
before the great J udge of All ; not as invested with those 
offices growing out of mere incidental circumstances, but 
each in his true character. All this parade and show is 
nothing but a pageant, or a dramatic exhibition ; soon 
the curtain must fall, and we shall assume our true 
characters. Then will we feel the force of that senti- 
ment — 

" Honor and shame from no conditions rise; 
Act well your part, there all the honor lies ;" 

Then we shall see and understand that all true, all 
real honor, arises not from having been a master, a king, 
or any thing else, but from having performed our moral 
and rehgious, our social and civil duties, in such a man- 
ner as to commend ourselves to the Great Judge of 
All. 



126 MELVILLE LETTEKS ; OR, THE 

Then, too, we shall iiiidcrstand that there is no shame 
in having been a slave in this world, but that the poor 
black man, who, amidst ignorance and obstacles of va- 
rious kinds, endeavored to discharge his moral and reli 
gious duties, in the fear of God, not as a mere man 
pleaser, but in singleness of heart, as fearing God, shall 
have his head lifted high, among angels and archangels, 
the elder spirits of the world of glory. 

I have said the master has fearful responsibilities ; he 
has, too, a glorious opportunity of being made the in- 
strument of salvation to his people. The servants of a 
good master delight to look upon him, as a paragon of 
excellence ; and if he is devotedly and truly a pious 
man, he may be the means of forming their characters 
for heaven. 

Yours, in great affection, 

WILLIAM R. MELVILLE. 



Melville Cottage, 1850. 

My Mucn Esteemed and Beloved Brother, — 

Your exhibition of the duties of masters, and espe- 
cially your application of it to me, has had the effect of 
rendering me much dissatisfied with myself. The beau- 
tiful illusion which I had succeeded in throwing around 
myself is gone, and with it a large proportion of my 
self-complacency ; and, yet, can I, dare I, say that my 
Virother has done wrong, in drawing me into this discus- 
sion, or tliat I have acted unwisely in allowing myself to 



DUTIES OF MASTERS TO TIIEIU SERVANTS. 127 

be drawn into it ? Would I, if I could, bring back that 
false view, which, like a baseless vision, was the unreal 
foundation upon which my self-satisfaction in this matter 
rested. 'Tis true my ignorance was bliss, but is it folly 
to be wise? No ! I answer, emphatically, no ! I see, 
most clearly, that all that I have been doing, as you 
most correctly remark, overlooks the important thought 
that they have souls. I have, up to this time, in all my 
excellent planning and arranging for them, considered 
them as merely physical or animal beings. — Creatures, 
whose sole business on earth, is to inquire what shall we 
eat? w^iat shall we drink? and wherewith shall we 
be clothed ? I have not acted from selfishness , for I 
know I am not selfish; but I plainly discover that all that 
I am doing, I might have done from that unworthy mo- 
tive. I see, too, as I believe, ^vhj/ I have acted thus in 
reference to my servants. As mortifying as the confes- 
sion is, I am compelled to say that I have, up to this 
period, treated myself, my wife, and my children, no bet- 
ter than I have my servants. I have sought to make all 
happy around me, so far as the comforts of this life are 
concerned, but I see now that I have not, in reference to 
myself, or those dearer to me than ni}^ own life, even 
considered the wants of their imnjortal souls. 

The duties you urge appeal-, all of then], to be rcNisona- 
ble and practicable ; but, yet, how I shall i)erform them, 
I know not. I will seek direction from heaven, and un- 
dertake to discharge, to the best of my ability, those im- 
portant duties. And, now, I earnestly ask you what T 



128 MELVILLE LETTERS, ETC. 

have never Msked before, but wliich, I feel assured, 
you will do : pray the Almighty God on my behalf, 
that I and my whole family, white and black, may so 
live as to meet at last in heaven. 

VV ith every sentiment of fraternal regard, 
I am, your affectionate brother, 

JOSEPH L. MELVILLE. 



ESSAY. 



THE DUTIES 



OF 



CHKISTIAN MASTERS. 



REV. A. T. HOLMES 

Of Hayneville, Houston Co., Geo. 



CHARLESTOI^, S. C. : 
SOUTHERN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY. 

1851. 



4 



ESSAY. 
THE DUTIES OF GHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

BY REV. A. T. HOLMES, 

Hayneville, Houston County, Georgia. 



When, at the formation ^f Eve, the CJod of the Uni- 
verse declared, that it was not good for man to bo aloiic, 
the importance of the social principle was fully recog- 
nized, and man became a social being. Founded upon 
the union thus originally instituted, certain relations are 
discovered to exist, in which are involved certain duties, 
each relation urging its claim respectively. Tlius, the hus- 
band sustains a relation to his wife, the parent to his 
child, the citizen to his country, in each of which dis- 
tinctive duties are to be discharged, growing out of the 
particular relation thus sustained. Among other rela- 
tions which he sustains, man is master ; and in this, as 
in all others, certain duties are involved. These rela- 
tions are, all, of Divine appointment, (that between 
master and servant as positively as any other,) and, there- 
fore, the duties which are involved, are all of Divine 
requirement. Every duty is a command, and God must 
be regarded as commanding the master to perform those 



132 THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

duties to his servants, which the relation he bears to 
them involves and imposes. 

If the position assumed in the preceding proposition 
is correct, and, surely, the proposition itself may be re- 
garded as self-evident, then is it of great moment, that 
all the duties involved should be ascertained, as far as 
practicable, with special reference to their proper observ- 
ance and their faithful discharge. Our present purpose 
is to inquire into the duties of masters, and, especially, 
of Christian masters, according to the word of God. 

The Apostle, Paul, in writing to the Ephesian Church, 
(Eph. vi., 5-8,) exhorts servants to obedience. They 
are admonished, that cheerful obedience is the will of 
God, and are assured that He, himself, will secure the 
recompense, in regard to whatsoever good thing a man 
doeth, whether bond or free, it being done as unto the 
Lord, and not unto men. An act performed, whether 
by master or servant, from a sense of duty, God's au- 
thority and God's favor being properly recognized, can- 
not fail of its reward. Having been thus explicit in 
his direction and encouragement to servants, the Apostle 
calls upon masters to "do the same things (v. 9) unto 
them, forbearing threatening, knowing that theii- master, 
also, is in Heaven, and that there is no respect of per- 
sons with him." To do the same things, may be under- 
stood to cherish the same spirit of kindness and fidelity, 
to act in the same conscientious manner, and to have 
respect to the same recompense of reward. To forbear 
threatening, is to guard against a fretful, dissatisfied 
temper, and to resist a disposition to govern by terror 



THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MARTRFIS. 13a 

rather than by love. The mutual obligations, here en- 
joined, seem limited by the law of Christ, and the law 
of Christ is the law of kindness and good will. Such a 
spirit should be cultivated between master and servant, 
but, especially, on the part of the master, in view of the 
distinction, in his fiivor, which exists. But the law of 
Christ contemplates a wise and judicious exercise of 
kindness, and imposes the necessity of that wholesome 
discipline, which secures, in its result, the happiness of 
all concerned. Now, as the servant's obedience, if ren- 
dered in a sullen, reluctant spirit, and prompted only by 
the fear of punisliraent, cannot be good-will service, as 
to the Lord, so the exercise of right and authority, on 
the part of the master, with reference only to his interest, 
uninfluenced by kindness to his servant, and desire for 
his good, must incur the displeasure of Him with whom 
there is no respect of persons. A master may move 
among his servants, as a father among his children. He 
can impress the conviction upon them that he is con- 
cerned for their comfort and welfare, and that he aims 
to secure their confidence and affection. His presence 
need not be a terror, but to them that do evil, because 
he has it in his power to satisfy them that his domestic 
policy is based upon the principle, that virtue must be 
encouraged and vice restrained. The necessary amount 
of labor can be, consistently, required, and all insubor- 
dination discountenanced, because labor is requisite to 
the support of all, and strict discipline essential to the 
peace and well-being of all. Such a spirit moves to ac- 
tion, not from passion or impulse, but from principle, 



134 THE DUTIES OF CIIKISTIAN MASTERS. 

.'iikI requires service and siibordiiiatioii from the servant, 
as from nfelloiu bein(/, sustaining an humble relation to 
the master, but presenting claims upon his kindness and 
faithfulness which he may not disregard. The Christian 
master, in pursuing such a course, acts in the fear of 
God, discharges his trust in singleness of heart, and con- 
templates the end, as one who, knowing that he has a 
master in Heaven, would be prepared to render a satis- 
factory account of his stewardship. Not so with him 
who disregards the Divine instruction, and does not 
reahze the obligation which his station imposes. Threat- 
ening, abuse, avowed suspicion, hasty and unjust charges, 
and, too often, severe punishment, in anger, or prompted 
by vindictive motives, mark the intercourse between 
master and servant. No regard is manifested for the 
feelings of the servant, and no effort is made to induce 
his confidence and affection. The look of kindness never 
beams in the master's eye, the note of kindness is never 
heard in his voice, and the mortifying conviction is forced 
upon him, that the master entei'tains no feeling for him 
but such as may be excited by his interest in him as his 
property. True, he feeds him, shelters him, and attends 
to him in sickness ; but all this he does to his mule or 
his ox, and, seemingly, influenced by no better motives 
in the one case than in the other. Can it be rung too 
loudly in the ears of such, ye, also, have a master in 
Heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him? 

The same Apostle, in another letter, (Col. iv. 1,) calls 
upon, masters to give unto their servants that which is 
''just and equal,''^ the consideration being urged, that 



THE DUTIKS OF C'HlvlSTIAX MASTKKS. Mi^y 

tliey have a master in heaven. In pursnin^- tli,' invo>li. 
gation, as to the Christian master's duty, we may learn 
something from the use of the terms, '\jnst and C(/wil,'' 
as we find them in the Scripture referred to. Justice, in 
a restricted, legal sense, is almost universally observwd 
among masters ; but when a master has given that 
which is '■'jusV^ to his servant, has he done his duty ? 
Has he met the Divine requirement ? Or, is there some- 
thing more required than v?hat the law simply specifies? 
The answer is plain — equity, as well as justice, should 
reo'ulate all our intercourse with others, nor does the re- 
lation of master and servant constitute an exception. 
Masters, give unto your servants that which is "just 
and equal," for God hath shewed you what is good ; and 
what doth the Lord require of you but to do justly, and 
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 
(Micah, vi, 8.) As justice and equity appear to be the 
Divine requirement in the master's conduct towards his 
servant, (and concurrence in this interpretation is almost 
universal,) we shall be much assisted in determining what 
is the Christian master's duty, by ascertaining what is 
to be understood by these respective terms. Let the dis- 
tinction be noticed. The laws of society constitute the 
foundation of justice. That is right, which those laws 
recognize as right, and therefore the decisions of justice 
must be according to them. Equity has for its founda- 
tion the laws of nature. The law of justice is a written 
rule of life, binding its subjects to strict conformity in all 
their conclusions: — the law of equity dwells in the 
heart, is regulated by circumstances, and determines ac- 



136 THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

cording to its convictions of right and wrong. The de- 
cisions of justice respect the rights of property ; — the 
decisions of equity, those of humanity. The obligations 
of justice are imperative ; civil jurisdiction enforces the 
observance of its laws, and inflicts punishment upon the 
transgressor : — the obligations of equity are moral in 
their character, conscience dictates the observance of its 
laws, and the Divine displeasure attends their violation. 
Now, let the distinction be applied. Masters, in '■'■ giving 
to servants,''^ are to be governed by the laws of justice, 
but they are to be governed, also, by the laws of equity. 
Justice recognizes the master's right in his servant as 
property, and prescribes certain laws to which he must 
conform in his use of that property ; and the master is 
just, according as he respects those laws. Equity pleads 
the right of humanity, is not limited by the strict re- 
quirement of the law, and, in the conscientious discharge 
of duty, prompts the master to such treatment of his 
servant as would be desired, on his part, were their po- 
sitions reversed. The master gives that which is ^''jusf'' 
to his servant, when he acts towards him in strict ac- 
cordance with legal requirement ; he respects that law, 
the penalty of which is enforced at some civil tribunal ; 
but he gives him that which is " equal,'''' when his con- 
duct is directed by his consciousness of right and wrong ; 
when he reahzes the moral obligation imposed, and re- 
members, with humble reverence and with Godly feai', 
that he, also, has a master in Heaven. 

Thus, in the eye of the law, the master may be ^^jusf^ 
while he requires a certain amount of labor ; but, in that 



THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MAHTKUS. IH? 

requirement, conscience may be disregarded, rinht may 
be violated, and humanity may be outrag<'il. 'I'lius, 
also, in regard to food, and raiment, and rest. Justice 
feeds and clothes, according to law ; but equity provides, 
according to the claims of nature, the suggestions of 
right, the impulses of kindness, and a proper regai-d fur 
the Divine approbation. Masters, give unto your ser- 
vants that which is "just and equal," and forget not 
that there is a tribunal before which master and servant 
must stand, when all earthly distinctions will have ceased 
forever. In full view of this solemn truth, when justice 
puts the servant to work, let equity prescribe tlie task ; 
when justice would measure his meat or weigh his pork, 
let equity fill the measure and hold the scales ; when 
justice would provide his clothing, let equity determine 
as to the quality and quantity : and when justice would 
build his house, let equity arrange for its comfort and 
convenience. It is true, that where the claims of equity 
are thus respected, the annual nett proceeds must be di- 
minished to some inconsiderable extent; but, where is 
the master who will not feel himself amply compensated 
in the contentment, cheerfulness and comfortable condi- 
tion of his servants, secured at a sacrifice so small, and 
in a manner so reasonable and consistent ? 

Macknight, in his exposition of the Scripture which we 
are now considering, expresses an opinion, which, though 
to some extent gratuitous, may be regarded as impor- 
tant, from the fact that a duty is urged, which on the 
part of masters generally, does not seem to command 
proper attention. His opinion is, that the service «f a 



138 THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

wliolo life, according to strict justice, demands fit inaiii- 
tenance for that whole life; and that equity requires that 
the most faithful among servants should be distinguished 
by particuhxr rewards. What may be the correctness of 
this criticism, need not, now, be argued ; but the duty 
of making a distinction between faithful and unfaithful 
servants, all will admit. The rule of conduct in this 
case, must be that which is observed by the great Msus- 
ter of us all. He makes a ditference between him that 
serves him and him that serves him not, and a public 
exhibition of that difference will be made, for, in that 
day when God shall " make up his jewels," men shall 
discern between the ri"-hteous and the wicked. When, 
on the one hand, it is said, " well done, good and faith- 
ful servant;" and, on the other, "out of thine own 
mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant ;" the prin- 
ciple, involved in this distinction, is clearly recognized, 
and is, consequently, established as the rule of conduct 
in all subordinate relations. The Christian master, there- 
fore, should be known among hia servants as frowning, 
uniformly upon vice, and smiling upon virtue ; as ap- 
proving that which is right, because it is right, and con- 
demning that which is wrong, because it is wrong, and 
as exercising his authority, both in rewards and punish- 
ments, with that respect for right which will, directly, 
tend to improve the moral condition of his servants. 
This is the master's duty ; it constitutes an important 
part of his personal responsibility, and, in the Recount 
which will be required of his stewardship, much of his 
"^03/" or " grief'' will be found connected with liis faith- 



THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTEKK. 1 MU 

fulness or neglect. How cMreful, then, should tlir m.ishT 
be, to convince his servant that while he. will, (•••rtaiiiij, 
be punished in some form, for neglect or carelessness in 
his daily work, for disregard of his authority, for thoft, 
or for any thing else, which may affect his interest unfavo- 
rably, so, also, will he certainly be punished, in sonic 
proper form, for falsehood, profane language, Sabbath 
violation, or any thing else, which amounts to an act 
positively immoral, and, therefore, displeasing to God, 
and hurtful to the spiritual interest of the servant him- 
self. I dread the self-condemnation of that Christian 
mastei', whose servants have never felt the force of his 
examj)le and authority in encouraging moral pro})riety, 
and in reproving and suppressing that which was offen- 
sive in the sight of God. Masters, give unto your ser- 
vants that which is ^^ jusl and equal,''' and, in order that 
this may be properly done, establish among them a 
mild and uniform system of discipline, having respect to 
improj)riety of every sort. Be careful to satisfy them 
that motives of duty and benevolence prompt you to a 
strict observance of this system, and let it distinctly ap- 
pear that your rewards and punishments have respect, 
not only to their increased value as property, but, also, 
to their improvement in moral worth. I know Abra- 
ham, said the Lord, that he will command his children 
and his household after him ; and they shall keep the 
way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. That which 
in Abraham i-eeeived the Divine favor, will obtain a simi- 
lar acknowledgment in every other instance ; and that 
which Abraham discharged, i\B a solemn duty, rests with 



140 THE DUTIES OF CHRTSTIAN MASTERS. 

equal force upon every Christian master. Let it not be 
forgotten, that we, also, have a master in Heaven, and 
tliat in regard to duties devolving upon us in the several 
relations which we sustain, He is no respecter of per- 
sons. 

In connection with the Divine instruction which has 
been considered, may. be noticed, here, Job's vindication 
of his integrity against the false charges of Eliphaz. 
" If I did despise the cause of my man servant, or of my 
maid servant, when they contended with me ; what, then, 
shall I do, when God riseth up ? And when he visiteth, 
what shall I answer him ? Did not he that made me in 
the womb, make him ? And did not one fashion us in 
the womb?" (Job, xxxi, 13-15.) In this just and 
necessary protest. Job evidently understands both the 
duty and responsibihty involved in the relation which 
he sustained to his servants. A master himself, he re- 
membered that he, also, had a master, with whom there 
was no respect of persons, and whose approbation was 
secured, not by the station occupied, but by the faith- 
fulness of him who occupied that station, whether mas- 
ter or servant. Did not He that made me, make him ? 

When Job speaks of his servants contending with 
him, he is to be understood as referring to accusations 
made against them, which they denied ; or to oftences 
committed by them, which they attempted to excuse or 
justify ; or to complaints which they urged, because of 
hardships imposed upon them. The "cause" of his ser- 
vant, in either case specified, or in any case involving a 
just claim or an equitable demand, he did not desinse. 



THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 141 

The servant was permitted to speak, and an ojtportmiity 
afforded to prove tlie accusation false. His acknowledi^- 
ment of the offence, his regret for it, and anv pallialini^ 
fact which he might urge in connection, were all heard 
with kindness, and received proper consideration. The 
cause of complaint was examined, and if found sufficient, 
proper measures were taken for its removal. lie did 
not brow-beat them, nor, in the haughty, tyrannical ex- 
ercise of his power, refuse to hear their excuse or attend 
to their complaints, nor did he take their guilt for 
granted^ without proper investigation. This he might 
have done, and have been regarded, in consequence, as a 
good manager, an excellent disciplinarian, a man who 
knew well how to keep his servants in subjection ; but 
this he might not have done, with any hope of the favor 
of that God who made them both, and who requires of 
the master that he give to his servant that which is just 
and equal. For, let it be remembered, that Job was now 
repelling unjust charges ; in defence of his character, he 
was pleading before the tribunal of a righteous God, and 
clearly intimates that a proper regard for the cause of 
his servant, as well as an upright conduct in other 
respects, was by him considered essential, in order that 
he might avoid that condemnation which he was sup- 
posed, justly, to have incurred. And, let it be further 
remembered, that among Job's numerous servants, many 
were rebellious, undutiful and unfaithful, and held both 
him and his cause in contempt. Yet their cause he did 
not despise, nor did he find any excuse for the neglect of 
duty, or any extenuation of his injustice and cruelty in 



142 THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

the improper conduct of those who sustained to hini the 
humble relation of servants, subject to his authority, 
and having no appeal from that authority but to Hmi 
wlio is no' respecter of persons. How are masters, and 
especially Christian masters, admonished by this scrupu- 
lous adherence to right on the j)art of Job I While he 
was a law-abiding man, evidently, and. respected the in- 
stitutions of society and government, he regarded the 
requirement and approbation of God as paramount in 
their importance. Not satisfied to act as the law of the 
land directed, he was conscientious to observe the law of 
God. Not content to render justice, where justice could 
be demanded, he was careful to obey its dictates, when 
naught but a sense of right prompted him to action ; 
and when the case of the widow and fatherless was 
brought before him, the necessity of the poor, the claim 
of his neighbor, or the cause of his servant^ he recog- 
nized but one law to govern his conduct. That law was 
the law of right, the law of God. To this he submitted 
every action, and b}- this was he regulated in every de- 
cision ; and, in the spirit of the Apostle, " labored," in 
prosperity and adversity, in life and in death, to be "ac- 
cepted" of God, believing, that in all nations, he that 
feareth God, and worketh the righteousness, is accepted 
of him. 

Having, thus far, considered and urged the plain 
Scriptural direction respecting the duties of Christian 
masters, and, truly, a Christian master's duty is every 
master's duty, it is proposed to infer, from the views 
presented, some general and some special duties, which 



THB DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MA8TEKH. 1 t.'l 

cannot be neglected, -without doing violenct; to aW the 
principles involved. These duties are, of course, more 
or less binding, according to the circumstances of tin; 
m.aster, for God's requirements are according U) what a 
man hatli, and not according to what he hath not. in 
regard to this, Paul's rule is a good one : " Herein do I 
exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence." 

We infer, first, that the master should be the friend 
of his servant, and that the servant should know it. 
Friendship implies good will, kindness, a desire for the 
welfare of him for whom it is entertained. Thus should 
the master feel towards his servant, and in the cultiva- 
tion of this spirit and its decided manifestation, there 
need be no compromise of authorit}^, no undue fami- 
liarity. The servant, under such a master, knows his 
condition, and understands that, while he is restricted 
to certain privileges and required to perform certain du- 
ties, he is not held in subjection by an unfeeling tyrant, 
nor driven to his work by a heartless oppressor. A kind 
word, a pleasant look, a little arrangement for his com- 
fort, assures him that there is one who cares for him ; 
and, notwithstanding he goes forth to his daily labor, 
and toils at his daily task, his heart is light, his song is 
cheerful, and he seeks his humble couch at night, in the 
happy consciousness that his master is his friend. Such 
is the enviable lot of many servants in our ''sunny 
South,^^ and on such plantations as feel the controlling 
influence of the master's friendship for his servants, it 
may be noticed, as a general fact, that order is observed, 
peace is cultivated, mutual confidence and good will are 



144 THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

encouraged, as much work is done as ought to be done, 
the sound of the lash is but seldom heard, and the runa- 
lucufs punishment is but rarely inflicted. And yet, the 
friend becomes not the companion^ and the effort on 
the part of the master to secure confidence and affection, 
affords no warrant for impi-oper familiarity. The kind 
word and the pleasant look, are still the word and look 
of the master, and the little arrangements which are 
made for the servant's comfort, are made in full recogni- 
tion of the relative positions occupied, and produce, on 
his part, the grateful conviction that he is not regarded 
simply as property, but as a fellow being for whom feel- 
ings of kindness are cherished, and for whose happiness 
a proper desire is entertained. 

Again, we infer, that the master should be the protec- 
tor of his servant. The relation which they sustain to 
each other, is that of superior and infeiior, and while 
occasional circumstances may require that the master de- 
fend or vindicate his servant, the obligat'ons of every 
day call for his protection. The servant should feel that 
the superior wisdom, exjierit-nce, jjower and authority of 
his master, constitute his abiding security. He should 
be encouraged to i"eiy upon their certain and constant 
exercise, so that in regard to necessity, comfort, personal 
diflSculty or danger, he may, confiidently, look to his 
master for that protection which his particular case may 
demand. It is the master's duty that such an under- 
standing bo established between himself and his servant. 
In view of the servant's condition, it is both "/ws/ and 
cgwa/," and will contribute much towards securing that 



liHE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 145 

peace and mutual confidence which every good man 
loves to contemplate as the striking characteristic of his 
own family and houseliold. Moreover, it will advance 
the master's interest, for, while no right is yielded, and 
no improper indulgence granted ; while no authority k 
compromised, and no undue hberty allowed ; at the same 
time, the servant learns to value his protection, loves his 
master, is attached to his home, and therefore less in- 
clined to rove, dreads no separation from his family if 
he has one, and attends to his daily work, comparatively 
free from care and anxiety, and rejoicing in the assu- 
rance that, in his master, he has a kind, watcliful and 
considerate protector. 

Once more, we infer that the master should be the 
guide of his servant. In the duty here specified, refe- 
rence is had, not only to the influence which the master 
is supposed to have over the movements or actions of 
his servant, but, also, to the superior intelhgence of the 
master. 

There is no relation, perhaps, unless it is that between 
father and son, in which a more decided influence is ex- 
erted, than that which exists between the master and 
his servant. Ordinary conduct and conversation are 
observed, manner is marked, habits are noticed, and, 
according as the master regulates his life by principles 
of right, his servant is influenced for good or for evil. 
The master may b3 a profane man, or a Sabbath break- 
er, or a drinker of ardent spirits — a licentious man in 
some positive sense — and, almost invariably, will his 
licentious course be acted out by those who are con- 
10 



146 THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

trolled, as well by bis influence and example, as by bis 
autbority. That master speaks and acts tbus, is not 
only a sufficient warrant with many serv^ants, but, actu- 
ally, a reason why they sbould speak and act thus 
themselves. And, are we accountable for the influence 
which we exert upon others ? Will our common master 
in Heaven hold us responsible not only for the evil whicli 
we commit ourselves, but for that which we induce 
others to commit ? Is there danger that I shall be con- 
founded in the presence of the great Judge of all, and 
doiLbly confounded, because, daring myself to profane 
the name of God, my servant feels at liberty to do the 
same ? Masters ! Christian masters ! what manner of 
persons ought ye to be ! Twenty, fifty, perhaps an hun- 
dred immortal, accountable beings look up to you, re- 
spectively ; they watch your movements, they note your 
example, and they, almost literally, follow your guid- 
ance, as the traveller follows his guide through some 
unknown region. Whither does your influence lead 
them ? In following your example, what prospect have 
they for peace with God beyond the grave ? To what 
extent are they encouraged to pursue the right and avoid 
the wrong, by their regard for your good opinion, and 
their conviction that it can only be obtained by a correct 
and upright course of conduct ? How pleasant must be 
the consciousness of that master, who contemplating his 
relation to his servants, feels, that while they labor for 
his benefit, submit to his authority, and conform to his 
regulations, they, also, regard him as their friend, appeal 
to him as their protector, and trust to his superior intel- 



THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 147 

ligence for direction ? and, that while they follow Ijis 
example, and live under liis influence, they are prei)aring 
for the joys and employments of that better world, where 
master and servant will find that with God there ia no 
respect of persons, and that he only distinguishes between 
" him that serves him and him that serves him not." 

We infer, lastly, that the master should be the teacher 
of his servant. Ignorance, in a peculiar sense, attaches 
to tbe negro, and ignorance, says Dr. Dick, is one prin- 
cipal cause of the want of virtue, and of the immoralities 
which abound in the world. The law of the land, sus- 
tained by public opinion, and justified in view of the 
causes which require its existence and enforcement, de- 
nies to the servant the opportunity for instruction which 
might, otherwise, be afforded. As a very natural conse- 
quence, the servant, independent of his constitutional 
tendency, is, more or less, credulous and superstitious. 
He is constantly exposed to error, and especially error 
in regard to religious matters. It devolves, therefore, 
upon the master, in the dischai-ge of his duty, to have 
respect to the ignorant condition of his servant, for ig- 
norant, credulous and superstitious as he is, at the same 
time he is an immortal and accountable being. Sooner 
or later, he must die, and be judged with righteous 
judgment. In that judgment will the master have no 
interest ? Will he be allowed to witness it, and feel that 
its retributions, in no manner, concern him ? Will his 
servants be destroyed for " lack of knowledge," and con- 
science not remind him that he had neglected to teach 
them the way of truth 1 Will he not quail before the 



148 THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

glance of that eye, which, in the ignorance of the ser- 
vant, detects the indifterence and unfaithfulness of the 
master ? Alas ! in that awful, fearful hour, no longer 
affected by the false sanctions of worldly policy, common 
usages, and popular prejudice, and no longer influenced 
by the false suggestions of worldly interest, how will 
some masters speak aloud their self-condemnation, when 
they remember how little they did, if they did any thing 
at all, that their servants might receive that instruction 
which would make them wise unto eternal life ! It is 
urged, therefore, as an imperious duty, that the master, 
the Christian master, be the teacher of his servant. But 
teach him what, it may be asked ? Teach him how to 
read and write ? Instruct him in those branches of 
learning taught in our schools and colleges ? Make him 
acquainted with those matters of general interest which 
agitate and disturb the political world ? We answer, 
no ; but teach him that he is a sinner, and that the Lord 
Jesus Christ is the sinner's friend. Teach him the abso- 
lute necessity of repentance toward God, and faith in the 
crucified Redeemer. Teach him that he must deny 
himself all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live sober- 
ly, and righteously, and godly, in this present world. 
Let the light of your superior knowledge shine upon the 
darkness of his ignorance, and let his credulity and su- 
perstition yield to that simplicity and godly sincerity, 
which the holy religion of the Son of God secures to all, 
masters and servants, who are brought to feel its sancti- 
fying and saving power. Christian master, enter the 
dark cabin of thy servant, and with the lamp of truth in 



THE DUTIES OP CHRISTIAN MASTKllS. 119 

tliy hand, light up his yet darker soul with tlie know- 
ledge of him, whom to know is life eternal. 

A few hints, in connection with the last inference, will 
close this essay. 

The important duty of teaching our servants, cannot 
be performed, to much purpose, without special ellbrt. 
An occasional attention to it, so as to keep on tolerable 
terms with conscience, will accomplish but little, and is 
pitiful trifling, where solemn results are pending. It 
should be manifest, that in comnjunicating to them reli- 
gious instruction, we are in good earnest, and that we 
are influenced by considerations no less solemn than our 
own accountability, and their temporal and eternal wel- 
fare. A certain time should be designated, to be devo- 
ted to this work, taken, not from their hours of rest, but 
from their hours of lahor, and their attendance should 
be required. 

The effort made to instruct our servants, should bo 
appropriate. Some plan should be adopted suited to 
their capacity. " Understandest thou ivhat thou read- 
est," is as important a question to the negro now, as it 
was to the Ethiopian eighteen hundred years ago. Ques- 
tions should be asked, which will lead them to think^ 
and encourage them to remember what they hear. Short 
portions of Divine truth should be read and explained, 
and their particular application to them urged with 
kindness and faithfulness. Let the master exercise his 
judgment, that his servants may be benefited by his wise 
arrangements for their spiritual well-being. 

The effort should be a 2^^^'severim/ one. So long as 



150 THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 

the relation shall continue, so long will the duty be bind- 
ing upon us. Besides, perseverance is necessary to suc- 
cess. Many things, doubtless, will occur to discourage 
us, but let us not b'e " weary in well doing, for in due 
season we shall reap, if we faint not." In no one parti- 
cular is this exhortation of the Apostle more worthy of 
solemn consideration than in that which now occupies 
our attention. In this case, as in all others, the path of 
duty is the path of peace, of interest, and of safety, for 
He who has a right thus to speak, has promised that if 
we are faithful unto death, we shall receive a crown of 
hfe. The effort should be a prayerful one. The Divine 
blessing is essential to our success in every thing that we 
undertake. In praying with our servants and for them, 
we shall understand our duty more correctly ; we shall 
be aided in making the most appropriate arrangements 
for the performance of that duty ; we shall find our per- 
severance and self-denial encouraged and sustained in 
carrying out those arrangements, and shall be able, with 
humble confidence, to submit all to Him, whose preroga- 
tive it is to say, " Well done, good and faithful ser- 
vant.'''' 

And now, Christian masters, suffer the word of exhor- 
tation from one, who, like yourselves, sustains this impor- 
tant relation. Lift your eyes to the judgment seat of 
Christ, remember your stewardship, consider the eternal 
welfare of your servants, and deterlnine for yourselves, 
whether it is the part of wisdom to neglect this duty, or 
to make the proper effort, in order that it may be pro- 
perly discharged. Anticipate that trying hour, when 



THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS. 1 j 1 

the smile or the frown of your Maimer and your .ludjr.) 
will depend upon the developments of that " liook of 
Remembrance," wherein is registered your faithfuhicss 
or your neglect. Stand with your servants before Uis 
righteous throne, and let the convictions of that honest 
hour fix your purpose to meet the claims which your 
relation, as masters, impose., upon you. " Whatsoever 
thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might ; for there 
is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in 
the grave, whither thou goest." Ecc. ix, 10. 



CHARLESTON, S. C: 

STEAM POWER-PRESS OF WALKER AND JAMES, 
No. 101 East Bay. 



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